Washed, natural, honey: what processing does to the cup

After picking, coffee cherries have to be turned into dry green beans. How the farm does that changes the flavour as much as the origin does.

Washed

The fruit is removed, the beans are fermented and washed, then dried. Washed coffees taste clean and bright, with clear acidity. Our Kenya and Yirgacheffe are good examples.

Natural

The whole cherry dries in the sun before the bean is removed. The fruit adds sweetness and body, often with berry or wine-like notes. Try the Guji Natural next to the Yirgacheffe to taste the difference from the same country.

Honey

The skin is removed but some of the sticky fruit stays on while the bean dries. Honey coffees sit in the middle, sweet and round. Our Costa Rica Tarrazu is a yellow honey.

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