Coffee 



191 



and dew is easily secured. Other planters use trays, which can be placed on supports above 

 the level of the ground and readily carried under cover when necessary. Drying coffee in such 

 trays is illustrated in the pictures on p. 189 and p. 190. When the sun's heat cannot be relied 

 upon, artificial heat has to be resorted to. One method is to have special drying tables, fitted 

 with steam pipes. The beans are spread on these tables or trays, constantly stirred, and 

 rapidly dried by the application of heat which can be regulated as desirable. 



The colour of coffee, which has such great influence on the market price, chiefly depends 

 on the quantity of water which the beans contain. Blue beans contain more moisture than 

 the green, and these again more than yellow ones, while slow drying in a damp atmosphere 

 gives the beans the colour of lead. 



The dried beans are now in the state known as "parchment coffee." Each bean is still 

 covered by the delicate silver skin and that again by the parchment which is harder and 

 stronger in Liberian than in Arabian coffee. The produce is frequently exported in this state, 

 and, for some time at any rate, its quality appears to improve whilst it is kept in this condition. 



Before, however, the beans can be used the parchment and silver skin must be removed, 

 and this may be done on the estate, at the port of shipment, or at the receiving port or 

 elsewhere, according to weather conditions, supply of labour, and other considerations. 



Peeling. The removal of the final coverings is known as peeling. Machines of various 

 types are employed, but in all the essential is to crack the parchment without injuring the bean. 

 The coffee must be thoroughly dry before this is done, as then the parchment is brittle and 

 more easily broken up, for example, by rollers. Winnowing removes the light pieces of parch- 

 ment and leaves the heavy beans behind. A further simple rubbing and winnowing gets rid 

 of the silver skin, leaving the beans clean and in the condition of ordinary unroasted coffee. 



JAVA. STONE COFFEE DRYING FLOORS WITH MOVEABLE ROOFS 



