Every time when you go to buy coffee, what you hear most often is something like this and that processing method. Although the sellers often explain it clearly, buyers are often left confused.
Although this is an earlier article, when discussing what is a coffee body, I briefly mentioned the various processing methods of coffee beans.
Recently, I have discovered that although most people drink coffee regularly, they are still not very clear about more basic common sense.
Let me start with the simplest introduction and explain to you the three most common coffee processing methods, namely natural processing, washed processing and honey processing, and their respective unique craftsmanship and flavor characteristics.
☀️ Natural Process is the oldest and most natural treatment method
After the coffee berries are harvested, they are exposed directly to the sun along with the peel and pulp. They need to be turned over regularly to prevent the berries underneath from getting moldy and rotting due to uneven exposure.
The drying time is usually two to three weeks, until the moisture content of the fruit drops to a state suitable for storage, and then it is shelled and preserved, which is called solarization.
Sun-dried coffee beans have a richer flavor due to their long and comprehensive contact with the pulp. They retain the most natural fruity aroma and sweetness, giving the coffee beans a softer acidity and even bitterness, with richer layers and a mellower taste.
However, if not handled properly, it is more likely to cause over-fermentation or uneven flavor.
This method is common in areas with plenty of sunshine and little rainfall, such as some African countries and Brazil.
💧 Washed Process emphasizes cleanliness and consistency.
Washing is the most common processing method in the world, accounting for about 70% of the world's processing methods. After the skin and pulp of the coffee fruit are removed, the coffee beans with the pectin layer are soaked in water for fermentation, and the pectin is decomposed by enzymes. Then they are washed with clean water and finally dried.
The washed coffee beans have a clean, bright flavor with a higher acidity, which can clearly show the origin characteristics and variety flavor of the coffee, but the sweetness and mellowness are relatively low.
This method is common in areas with abundant water resources, such as Colombia and Guatemala in Central and South America.
🍯 Honey Process is between sun drying and washing
After the outer layer of the coffee fruit peel is removed, most of the pectin layer is retained and dried directly; depending on the amount of retained pectin and the drying method, it can be further divided into white honey, yellow honey, red honey and black honey.
The honey-processed coffee beans have both the sweetness of sun-dried coffee and the bright acidity of washed coffee, with rich flavor layers and a smooth taste.
The flavor of coffee beans processed with white honey is closer to washed coffee, with bright acidity; the flavor of coffee beans processed with black honey is closer to sun-dried coffee, with higher sweetness and body.
Honey processing originated in Costa Rica and is suitable for areas with limited water resources but stable climate.
For those who don’t like coffee that is too sour, too bitter, or has a strong flavor, when choosing coffee beans, you may want to refer to the method of processing with honey to make your choice.
I have reduced the above long text into simpler categories:
☀️Sun-dried: high sweetness, low acidity, high body, rich fruity aroma, and strong sweetness.
💧Washed: low sweetness, high acidity, low body, clean flavor, bright acidity.
🍯Honey processing: medium sweetness, medium acidity, medium mellowness, balanced sweet and sour, smooth taste.
As long as you have a brief understanding of these three main methods of processing coffee beans, whether you prefer natural coffee with rich fruity aroma, washed coffee with bright acidity, or honey-processed coffee with balanced flavor, you can find options that satisfy your different taste buds among the different processing methods.
This will help you choose a more suitable flavor based on your personal preferences the next time you buy coffee.
If you still don’t know which coffee beans are suitable for you, the best thing to do is to buy them all, help the coffee shop owner pack them all at once, and then go home and mix your favorite flavor yourself!
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