What does Screening mean?
Screening is a process in coffee cultivation and processing where the coffee beans are sorted by size using a screen with holes of a fixed size. This is done to ensure consistency in the size of the beans, which can affect the quality and taste of the coffee.
The process involves passing the green coffee beans through a series of screens with different hole sizes. The beans are agitated on the screen to allow smaller beans to fall through, while larger beans remain on top of the screen. The beans that pass through the smallest screen are called "peaberries" and are highly prized for their unique flavor profile.
Screening is an important step in coffee processing because it helps to ensure uniformity in the size of the beans, which can affect the evenness of the roast and the overall quality of the coffee. By separating the beans by size, the roaster can create a more consistent flavor profile, which is important for specialty coffee.
In addition to size, screening can also be used to remove any defective beans or foreign matter that may be present in the coffee. This ensures that only the highest quality beans make it into the final product.
Overall, screening is an essential step in the coffee processing chain that helps to ensure consistency, quality, and flavor in the final product.