BEVERAGES 89 



The berries have the outer fleshy part removed, and are 

 left to decay for a short time ; they are tlien dried in a 

 large paved enclosure, and afterwards, by stamping or roll- 

 ing, the parchment-like inner husks are got rid of ; the 

 coffee bean (seed) is then ready to be thoroughly dried in 

 order to make it keep. 



When needed it is roasted by means of a coffee-roaster, 

 ground in a coffee-mill, and prepared in the usual way. In 

 Arabia and the East the unroasted bean is constantly used 

 for the preparation of coffee. Pavy states that coffee is 

 said to have been in use in Abyssinia from time immemorial. 

 Coffee contains a little volatile oil and I'O per cent, of 

 caffeine (theine), etc. 



