
Coffee "beans" are actually the seeds found inside the fruit of the coffee plant, known as coffee cherries. Each cherry usually contains two seeds, which are removed, processed, dried, and roasted before becoming the coffee we brew. Because they resemble legumes, people began calling them beans, and the name stuck.
The roasting process is what creates coffee's rich aroma and flavor. Today, coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world.
© National Coffee Association