Coffee beans: Natural or washed?

The processing method of coffee beans has an important impact on the taste and flavor of coffee. Among them, natural drying and washed coffee are two common processing methods. So, which is better, natural drying or washed coffee? Below we will compare them from several aspects.

First of all, in terms of taste, sun-dried coffee beans usually have a rich and full taste. This is because during the sun-drying process, the coffee fruit is exposed to the sun for a longer time, which makes the pulp ferment more, producing more complex and rich flavor substances. In contrast, the washed process will remove some substances on the surface of the pulp, and because the pulp is separated from the bean skin earlier, the contact time during the fermentation process is relatively short, so the taste may be relatively light.

Secondly, from an environmental perspective, water washing is considered a more environmentally friendly and sustainable option in most cases. In the water washing process, a large amount of clean water is used to wash away the pulp and mucus layer, and the pulp and mucus layer are recycled through the ditch system. This not only reduces pollutant emissions, but also saves water resources. Sun drying, on the other hand, requires the coffee cherries to be spread on the ground, which may put some pressure on the soil and the surrounding environment.

In addition, from the perspective of flavor diversity, the washed coffee beans can better highlight the characteristics of the coffee beans themselves. Since the pulp and mucus layer are removed, the washed coffee beans are more likely to show their unique flavor characteristics. However, the sun-dried coffee beans may cover up some subtle differences and make it difficult to distinguish between different origins or varieties.

In summary, when choosing between natural or washed coffee beans, we need to weigh the pros and cons based on personal taste preferences, environmental awareness, and the pursuit of flavor diversity. If you like a strong and full taste and don’t care much about environmental issues, then natural coffee may be a good choice; if you focus on a light taste, environmental sustainability, and hope to try more coffee beans with different flavors, then you can consider the washed method.