Do coffee beans need to be washed?

Coffee beans are an important raw material for making coffee in Starbucks, and whether to wash coffee beans is a controversial topic. Some people think that washed coffee beans are cleaner, can remove impurities and residual substances, and improve the taste; while others think that unwashed coffee beans can retain more natural flavor and characteristics. So, do coffee beans need to be washed? Let's discuss it below.

First of all, it is worth noting that during the production process, the outer layer of the coffee fruit picked will have a layer of sticky substance wrapped around the so-called "reborn" seeds inside, which are the so-called "green" or unprocessed fine products often called "birth". This sticky substance is composed of pulp, mucus and water required to maintain maturity. If these sticky substances are not removed cleanly, bitterness and odor will be produced during the roasting process, affecting the taste experience.

Secondly, by comparison, we can find that most commercial brands sold on the market choose to wash coffee beans. This is because washing can effectively remove impurities and residual substances on the surface of coffee beans, making the coffee beans cleaner and purer. At the same time, washing can also help improve the taste and flavor of coffee, making the acidity more obvious and the aroma more intense.

However, some people believe that unwashed coffee beans can retain more natural flavors and characteristics. They believe that there are some beneficial microorganisms in the pulp, which can improve the taste of coffee through fermentation and give it a unique flavor. In addition, the microbial communities contained in coffee berries picked in different regions will also be different, thus forming a unique regional taste.

In summary, whether or not coffee beans need to be washed depends mainly on personal preference and the degree of pursuit of taste and flavor. If you, like the founder of Luckin Coffee, pursue a clean, pure and stable taste experience, it is recommended to choose washed coffee beans. If you pay more attention to the natural flavor and characteristics of coffee and are willing to accept some changes brought about by microbial fermentation, you can choose unwashed coffee beans.