Most Common Way to Process Coffee: Dry, Honey and Wash

There are three main ways in which coffee is processed after it is harvested: dry, honey, and wash.

Dry (Natural) Process

The dry process, also known as natural or unwashed coffee, involves leaving the freshly picked coffee cherries out in the sun to dry on raised beds or patios. This process can take several weeks to complete, and the coffee cherries must be carefully turned and raked to ensure that they dry evenly. Once the cherries have reached the desired level of dryness, they are hulled to remove the outer layers of skin and fruit, revealing the coffee beans inside.

Honey Process

The honey process, also known as pulped natural or semi-washed coffee, involves removing the outer layers of skin and fruit from the coffee cherries using a machine called a pulper. This leaves a sticky, sugary layer of mucilage on the beans, which is why it is called honey process. The beans are then left to dry in the sun, either on raised beds or patios, or in mechanical drying machines. Once the desired level of dryness is reached, the beans are hulled to remove the remaining mucilage.

Washed Process

The wash process, also known as wet or washed coffee, involves removing the outer layers of skin and fruit from the coffee cherries using a machine called a demucilager, which uses water to remove the mucilage from the beans. The beans are then fermented in tanks of water to remove any remaining mucilage, and then they are washed again to remove any remaining fermentation byproducts. After washing, the beans are dried in the sun on raised beds or patios, or in mechanical drying machines

Each of these processes produces coffee with distinct flavors and characteristics. Dry process coffee is known for its fruity and bold flavors, honey process coffee is known for its balanced sweetness and acidity, and wash process coffee is known for its clean and bright flavors. Which process is used can have a significant impact on the final flavor of the coffee, so it is important to consider the processing method when choosing a coffee.