Coffee is a brewed beverage made from the roasted seeds (beans) of the Coffea plant, while green coffee is simply those same beans before roasting — raw, and much higher in natural antioxidants like chlorogenic acid. This guide walks through both: what coffee is, the main bean species, how green coffee is processed, and how roasting turns it into the cup you love.
What Is Coffee?
Coffee is a brewed beverage made from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of the Coffea plant. Those beans travel a long road — cultivation, harvesting, processing, roasting, and brewing — before they reach your cup. Coffee is prized for its rich flavor, energizing caffeine, and antioxidant content. Its history traces to Ethiopia, where, as legend tells it, a goat herder named Kaldi noticed the stimulating effect of coffee cherries. From there it spread to the Middle East, Europe, and the world.
The Main Coffee Bean Species
| Species | Share of production | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Arabica | ~60–70% | Smooth, complex, higher acidity |
| Robusta | ~30–40% | Bold, bitter, high caffeine |
| Liberica | ~1–2% | Fruity, floral, smoky undertone |
| Excelsa | <1% | Tart, fruity, complex (adds depth to blends) |
The two you’ll encounter most are Arabica and Robusta — see our full Arabica vs Robusta comparison, or explore all the different types of coffee beans.
What Is Green Coffee?
Green coffee is unroasted coffee — the raw beans in their natural state after harvesting and processing. Because they haven’t been roasted, they keep their original chemical makeup, including high levels of chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant that some research links to health benefits like improved metabolism and blood-sugar regulation.
How Green Coffee Is Processed
After the cherries are harvested, the beans go through one of three processing methods, each shaping the final flavor:
- Washed (wet) process: beans are fermented and washed to remove the outer layers, giving a cleaner, brighter taste.
- Natural (dry) process: beans dry with the cherry intact, producing fruity, complex flavors.
- Honey process: a hybrid that leaves some fruit mucilage on the bean, landing between washed and natural.
After processing, the green beans are dried and stored until they’re ready for roasting.
From Green Coffee to Roasted Coffee
Roasting is where the magic happens — it transforms raw green beans into aromatic, flavorful coffee. Roast level shapes the final taste:
- Light roast: bright, acidic, and retains the most origin character.
- Medium roast: balanced, with a mix of acidity and sweetness.
- Dark roast: bold, smoky, and lower in acidity.
Want the deeper dive? See our guides to coffee roast levels and how to roast coffee beans at home.
How to Enjoy Green Coffee
- Green coffee extract: used in supplements for its antioxidant content.
- Green coffee tea: steeping raw beans in hot water makes a mild, herbal drink.
- Home roasting: buy green beans and roast them yourself for a fully personalized cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between green coffee and regular coffee?
Green coffee is unroasted; regular coffee is roasted. Roasting develops the aroma, color, and flavor we associate with coffee, but also reduces some of the antioxidants present in green beans.
Can you drink green coffee?
Yes, usually as green coffee tea (steeped raw beans) or as an extract in supplements. It tastes mild and herbal, quite different from roasted coffee.
What are the four types of coffee beans?
Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa. Arabica and Robusta together account for the vast majority of the coffee produced worldwide.
At Berk’s Beans we source high-quality green coffee and roast it to order. Whether you want fresh-roasted bags or green beans to roast at home, explore our selection, from Concord, CA.
