Why Do Costa Rican Coffee Beans Undergo Honey Processing_ Is Sugar Added to Honey-Processed Coffee?

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Have you ever noticed the processing methods of coffee beans when buying coffee? Or do you simply order an Americano or latte at a coffee shop?

If this is how you drink coffee, you probably don't understand how to appreciate coffee properly. Next time, try ordering a specialty coffee and observe its origin and processing method. Listen to the barista's explanation and savor the flavors carefully. Before you enter the sophisticated coffee world, you must have heard of washed coffee and natural coffee—the two most common coffee bean processing methods.

The flavors of these two processing methods are vastly different: washed coffee tends to be acidic, while natural coffee tends to be sweet. Let's now use scientific research to explain the differences between these two methods!

Coffee Cherry Structure

Coffee beans are the seeds of coffee cherries. From appearance, coffee cherries look like undried red dates, and because they are small red fruits that resemble cherries, they are called "coffee cherries" in foreign countries.

Structurally, coffee cherries have several layers from outside to inside: skin, pulp, pectin layer, and coffee beans. Different processing methods leave different layers on the coffee beans, which naturally affects the flavor.

Initially, after coffee farmers harvest coffee cherries, they first remove unripe fruits. Then they use different methods to process the coffee beans.

Natural Processing Method

If coffee farmers assess that the weather permits and adopt natural processing, they spread these selected coffee cherries directly on large courtyards and let them dry in the sun for 2 to 3 weeks. After the coffee cherries are dried, the outer shells are removed to obtain coffee beans. These naturally processed beans retain dried pulp and pectin layers, making the coffee bean flavors richer and taste sweeter.

Washed Processing Method

In the washed method, selected coffee cherries pass through a depulping machine to remove skin and pulp, leaving coffee beans with pectin layers. These are placed in clean water tanks and fermented for 12 to 24 hours through symbiotic bacteria on the coffee itself, such as acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. These strains digest the pectin layer outside the coffee beans, producing acids that penetrate the beans, making washed coffee beans more acidic in flavor.

A 2001 study explored fermentation changes in washed coffee beans. The results found that the pH value of coffee beans was about 5.7 before fermentation, and after 20 hours of fermentation, it decreased to 3.8. Sugar content significantly decreased, while organic acid content increased substantially, indicating that washed coffee beans indeed contain more acidic substances, making their flavor more acidic.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Natural and washed processing each have their advantages and disadvantages. Natural processing is simple—just use sunlight to dry the coffee cherries. However, because it relies heavily on several consecutive weeks of strong sunshine, it's limited by weather. If it rains for several days, the entire batch of coffee cherries could be ruined. Therefore, high-quality natural beans command premium prices in the coffee bean auction market. Washed beans also have processing limitations; in countries with water scarcity or poor water quality, the washed method may not be usable.

Honey Processed Coffee Beans

Honey processing is popular in Costa Rica and is considered a semi-washed method. Unlike washed processing, it's not fermented in water tanks, so some pectin layer remains on the coffee beans. After drying, it forms a honey-wax color (amber spots), hence the name "honey processing." This method gives coffee more flavor. No sugar is added!

Exploring Different Coffee Flavors

Next time you drink coffee at a coffee shop, try coffees with different flavors. Don't just order Americanos or lattes!

Honey Processed Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's Costa Rican black honey processed coffee beans offer full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they offer excellent value—a half-pound (227g) package costs only about 95 RMB. Calculating at 15g per single-origin coffee, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, costing only about 6 RMB per cup. Compared to the dozens of RMB per cup sold in coffee shops, this represents exceptional value.

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 store 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