What Does Semi-Dry Volcano Processing Mean? How to Differentiate Between Honey Processed and Semi-Dry Coffee Beans?

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

Understanding Coffee Processing Methods

We often hear terms like natural, honey, and washed in cafés—these refer to various methods of processing raw coffee beans.

When coffee is still growing on the tree with its skin and pulp, it's called "coffee cherries." Coffee beans are actually just the seeds in the center. The process of removing the outer skin, pulp, and mucilage after harvesting is called "green bean processing."

Fermentation is when coffee beans undergo chemical changes to develop more flavors.

Coffee cherries ferment during the drying process. This fermentation is when coffee beans undergo chemical changes to develop more flavors. From past to present, coffee processing methods have continuously evolved. Coffee producers constantly experiment with different fermentation techniques—controlling fermentation bacteria sources (anaerobic fermentation), adding ingredients to feed bacterial strains, and using different sugar sources and concentrations. By using fruit pulp, cola, alcohol, and other substances, they can alter fermentation bacteria and create different flavors. For example, adding cola is said to produce cardamom and cinnamon notes. Flavor adjustment starting from the processing stage is an emerging technique, and many coffee professionals are still researching the details.

Natural Process

Coffee cherries are poured into large water tanks, using buoyancy to sort out inferior beans. The good fruits are then scooped out and spread evenly to dry in the sun. Finally, a hulling machine removes the fruit skin and mucilage.

Flavor Profile

Because the entire fruit ferments together, the fermentation notes are most pronounced during extraction.

Washed Process

Similar to the natural method, soaking is used to remove floating inferior beans. Then, machines remove the fruit skin and pulp, and the coffee beans are placed in water tanks. Fermentation dissolves the mucilage, and finally, the beans are machine-dried.

Flavor Profile

Compared to natural process beans, the flavor is cleaner and more refreshing.

Honey Process

The honey process is a compromise between natural and washed methods.

What's commonly known as "semi-natural" or "semi-washed" methods can all be considered types of honey processing. The honey process is a compromise between the two—it removes the fruit skin before sun-drying but retains the pulp and mucilage layers. After drying, machines remove the sticky layer and silver skin.

Flavor Profile

The mucilage feels sticky like honey, which also gives honey-processed coffee higher sweetness in flavor.

Innovative Processing Methods

Soaking green beans in oak barrels allows them to absorb the barrel's flavors.

Various green bean processing methods exist worldwide. Here, we introduce newly added "flavor-infused" creative processing methods!

Washed Oak Barrel Fermentation Process

The initial steps are similar to washed processing, but instead of placing beans in water tanks, they're soaked in oak barrels to absorb the barrel's flavor. (When发展到量产阶段时，便改以投入木料或酒精来取代橡木桶) - This part seems to have some Chinese text that needs translation: "When发展到量产阶段时，便改以投入木料或酒精来取代橡木桶" means "When developing to mass production stage, wood chips or alcohol are used to replace oak barrels."

Flavor Profile

Features candied fruit, brandy, and toffee notes.

Mango Pulp Infusion Fermentation Process

During the stage when green beans would be placed in water tanks, fruit pulp is added instead to influence fermentation flavors. This can add floral, passion fruit, lychee, and other tropical fruit notes to the green beans. Of course, different types of fruits added can create different variations.

Flavor Profile

Features tropical fruit flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find both famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online shop services at https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473