A Beginner’s Guide to Coffee Processing
Step into any specialty coffee shop, and you’ll see bags of beans covered in descriptive labels. Alongside the origin country and tasting notes, you’ll almost always see the terms Washed, Natural, or Honey. If you've ever wondered what these mean, they refer to how the coffee seed was removed from the fruit.
Here is a quick cheat sheet to help you choose your next bag:
Process | How It's Done | What It Tastes Like |
Washed (Wet) | The fruit flesh is completely scrubbed off with water before the beans are dried. | Clean, crisp, and bright. Highlights the pure, inherent flavor of the bean and its origin. |
Natural (Dry) | The whole coffee cherry is left intact to dry in the sun, letting the bean absorb flavors from the fruit. | Fruity, sweet, and bold. Expect heavy berry, wine-like, or tropical fruit notes. |
Honey Process | The skin is removed, but some sticky fruit flesh (mucilage) is left on the bean while drying. | Balanced and syrupy. A beautiful middle ground with a distinct, honey-like sweetness and mellow acidity. |
Next time you buy a bag, look at the process. If you love a bright, clean cup, go for a washed Ethiopian. If you want something that tastes like wild blueberries, grab a natural process bean.
