Coffee culture

Coffee Bean Processing Methods: Understanding Natural Processing and Its Characteristics

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Explore professional coffee knowledge and learn about natural coffee bean processing methods. Follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style) for comprehensive coffee bean information. Natural processing represents the most traditional method of coffee bean treatment, where freshly harvested coffee cherries are carefully spread evenly on drying grounds, allowing sunlight to naturally remove moisture from the fruit's skin and pulp.
Natural Process Coffee

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

Natural Process: The Original Coffee Processing Method

The natural process can be described as the most ancient method of coffee bean processing.

After coffee cherries are picked one by one from heavily laden coffee trees, they are all spread evenly on the ground, waiting for sunlight to dry the moisture from the skin and pulp of the coffee fruit. Once dried, the processing is complete.

Anatomy of a Coffee Cherry

The structure of a coffee cherry from outside to inside consists of the exocarp (outer skin), mesocarp (pulp), mucilage layer, endocarp (parchment), silver skin, and coffee embryo (bean). Therefore, coffee beans undergo various processing methods before becoming green beans for export.

Characteristics of the Natural Process

The natural process involves directly placing coffee cherries under the sun for exposure. When the moisture content of the coffee beans drops below a certain level, machines are used to remove everything from the exocarp to the endocarp at once. The advantage is richer flavor, while the disadvantages include more defective beans and the need for larger space.

The Reward of Natural Processing

The effort of natural processing is not wasted. High-quality natural processed beans have the sugar from fully ripe fruits gradually concentrated into the beans by sunlight, resulting in intense fruit aroma, rich body, high sweetness, and less sharp acidity than washed coffee. The special fermentation flavor of naturally processed coffee makes many people fall in love with it after just a few tastes.

Example: FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Yirgacheffe

Taking FrontStreet Coffee's Natural Yirgacheffe [Berry Orchard] as an example, the natural processing gives this coffee intense fermented berry aroma, making it very sweet and fruity when tasted. Compared to coffee, it's more like a glass of fruit wine.

Brewing Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee suggests brewing parameters:

V60/90°C/1:15/Time 1'50"

Flavor: Fermented berries, strawberry, strawberry jam, cream

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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