Coffee drinkers tend to focus on their favorite type of roast in order to make the perfect pot, but most aren't aware of how processing the bean makes a big impact on the final result. 

What Is Coffee Processing?

Coffee processing is the way in which a seed is removed from a coffee cherry. Fun fact: coffee beans are actually the seed of a cherry, and like other pitted fruits, there is some nuance on how to actually get the seed out. How the seed is extracted can affect its flavor, especially as it’s roasted and transformed into the "bean" we all drink today.

Ways to Process Coffee

There are several main methods to process coffee seeds, with regional and experimental variations. Each changes how sweet it is, its acidity, and the body (texture or feel).

Natural Processed Coffee

Also known as "dry processed", natural processing is the traditional and oldest basic technique for preparing coffee seeds. A coffee cherry, with the seed still inside, is dried out in the sun over two to six weeks. While drying, the sugars and mucilage (sticky substance that coats the seed) latch onto the seed and give it a sweeter flavor. Once dried, a machine separates the parchment and husk (the dried out pulp and skin) from the seed.

The natural process gives coffee a heavy body with deeper and complex notes that come from the time it ferments while fully intact within the cherry. Expect fruity and pulpy flavors! 

Washed Processing

Washed processing (also called “wet processing”) is a much faster and more efficient method where coffee seeds are submerged in tanks of water. Before seeds get to the tank, though, machines called depulpers remove the seed from the cherries that are at their peak ripeness. The mucilage and skin must be broken down by fermentation before it can be washed away, but once this is done and the mucilage is washed off from the seed, the seeds are placed in the sun for drying.

When this method is used, your brew will have a cleaner, lighter, brighter, and a more crisper taste than dry processed coffees.

Wet Hulled Processing

This is the middle man of coffee processing, not wet or dry, but semi-washed. The depulping machines still remove the seeds from the cherries, but instead of going to the drying beds, they're stored in plastic tanks where the mucilage and moisture are maintained. Beans are then hulled while they are still at higher moisture levels (30–40%) before they start their final drying.

When a coffee is more chocolatey, nutty, and earthy, chances are this method was used. It gives the bean a savory flavor with a heavy body brew.

Honey Processing

Honey processing is a combination of natural and washed processing, and it is less common, but especially popular in Central America. The depulper removes the seed from the cherry and is laid out to dry. Instead of going into a washing tank, the mucilage is left on the seed. The more mucilage, the sweeter the seed, which is why this method is called "honey processing".

A cleaner body with a syrup-sweet taste and a more pronounced acidity is the result of this method. Don't let the acidity dissuade you from trying this rare processing method; it tends to be more mellow than the wet processed coffees.

Pulped Natural

The term (and process) of pulped natural is often interchangeably used to describe the honey process (especially in Brazil). They are fairly similar, but unlike typical honey processing, some pulped natural coffees undergo minimal mucilage removal followed by rapid drying to retain a bright yet restrained acidity. This method highlights clarity over the sticky sweetness often found in honey coffees. The result is a coffee that strikes a balance between fresh fruit brightness and clean texture, emphasizing subtle sweetness and a lighter body.

What's Your Flavor?

Coffee is a dynamic drink. Like beer, tea, and wine, there are so many factors that impact the taste and body. It's truly a rich drink that offers a myriad of ways for someone to discover their perfect cup. 

As coffee lovers and experts, we're committed to serving that perfect brew. We select our beans from the top 1% of Arabica coffee in the world and never roast your coffee until after you've ordered it.

Experience coffee the way it should be—delicious and full of flavor in every sip. Order your bag today!