Anyone growing coffee beans?

[txdurk]

Just curious if anyone has tried it. Saw one youtube vid on producing your own coffee and the end product was pretty bad I guess. Living in semi-tropical Houston may allow for good bean growth but it probably isn't worth the overall effort of growing, picking, shelling, roasting, & grinding. If you have experince at this please share what you have learned.

Cheers @ beannacht.

[steve]

It is worth it! Coffee is kind of a tree and prefers a bit of shade. Great for an understory crop. Here's a converted gas grill roaster. I have not found better coffee. I bought these beans. It was a bit dry when I planted and mine didn't survive well in dirt.

[txdurk]

i saw some place (maybe jamaica) where the people were roasting beans in the sun on corugated tin roofing material. I thought I could try it since it's cheap and so am I. :)

[txdurk]

@Steve: You probably know this but I understand the beans have to be green in order for them to germinate.

[steve]

Hey Dave, On my list of things to do a large solar dryer and cooker. In some places locals roast on a Wok shaped pan. I just read that the red beans are picked and hulled, leaving the green inside bean to be planted, coffee can take up to 2.5 months to germinate. That said I'd think a fairly fresh unroasted green bean could be planted. I planted the entire fresh bean. Will have to search around in the jungle, maybe I have some hidden plants. I should have said a shrub rather than a tree, just trying to convey they may be a bit large for AP. 

[txdurk]

Steve: Yep, I knew what you meant. I had seen pics of the plant. I was thinking I could provide support for the bush if the root system liked flood and drain. If not maybe I could start the plant in AP and transplant it. Not sure if that makes sense or if I'd have root shock. In any case, I'll have some trouble getting green (or red) beans here so it may be a moot point.

[George]

Houston?  If you're a coffee lover, it's probably not worth doing.  If good coffee could be grown there, plenty of it would be growing already.  I think 1500-2000 meters altitude and within 20 degrees or so of the equator is where you need to be, although  I may be off a bit.  Roasting is easy, a weekly chore and generally we grind by the cup here.  It's well worth it.  Once you start drinking really good coffee, you can't go back. 

[txdurk]

You're probably right George.

[Jimi Subgum]

I've never had enough beans to try it. maybe a handful of red beans from one 6' plant. but the processing of the beans is labor intensive. labor of love :)

 they need to soak(how long?), dry(usually in the sun), shelled, and roasting isn't easy either. got to have the right temp.

the plant is beautiful to grow in its own right and the flowers and cherries/ seeds are viable. I've grown several seedlings and given them away.  bought mine from a specialty plant shop for a buck.  part sun(under a huge tree) and warm days and cool nights. I'm in Northeast US and just bring it in when temps at night are about 40-45F

[txdurk]

Thanks Jim: That lines up with what I could glean from the net. Being retired I am less concerned about spending my time that way. It gives me pleasure tending to such things and it keeps me out of the bars.