Processing Methods and Steps of Yunnan Coffee Beans_Best Yunnan Coffee Bean Brand_Yunnan Coffee Growing Region Information

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Harvesting and Initial Processing

After harvesting Yunnan coffee beans, people either send the berries directly to a pulp collector (when harvesting work is done well) or concentrate them in a siphon tank filled with water. The berries are cleaned and separated in this tank. Stones sink to the bottom of the tank and are picked up by hand when the tank is emptied. Lighter berries float on the water surface and are removed along with leaves and small branches using a strainer. The berries suspended in the water are then recovered with a siphon and transported to the pulp collector.

Pulp Removal

The purpose of pulp removal is to separate the pulp from the seed coat of the coffee bean. The pulp is removed by squeezing the berries. Since ripe berries contain a lot of moisture, the coffee beans with their skins can easily pop out when the berries are squeezed.

Mucilage Removal

The next step is mucilage removal, which aims to remove the mesocarp remnants that remain tightly attached to the seed coat after pulp removal (see the diagram of coffee berry parts for reference). Since this mucilage is insoluble in water and tightly adheres to the seed coat, it cannot be removed by simple washing alone. Therefore, it either needs to be fermented and then washed, or it needs to undergo vigorous friction in a device called a mucilage remover.

Fermentation Process in Yunnan

In Yunnan, this process is mainly completed through natural fermentation. The term fermentation is not 100% accurate because no biochemical reactions occur inside the coffee beans. It would be more appropriate to call this process using biochemical reactions or hydrolysis to remove mucilage. This reaction is caused by enzymes naturally present in coffee berries.

The fermentation time varies from 6 hours to 72 hours, depending on conditions such as temperature, amount of mucilage, and concentration of digestive enzymes. The coffee is placed in fermentation tanks until the mucilage is completely decomposed, and then the coffee beans can be washed.

Quality Control

The key to ensuring coffee quality is to terminate fermentation at the correct time, because over-fermentation can lead to so-called stinker beans. If fermentation is insufficient or too slow, butyric acid or propionic acid will be produced, both of which will adversely affect coffee quality.

Final Washing and Soaking

The fermented coffee with skin needs to be washed immediately after the fermentation process is completed to terminate this process. However, after removing the mucilage and before washing, the coffee with skin may be soaked in clean water for 12 to 24 hours to reduce the bitter taste in the coffee beverage.

Yunnan Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Yunnan coffee beans - Old Variety Typica coffee beans from Baoshan production area [Yunnan Huaguoshan] have full guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, the cost performance is extremely high. A half-pound package of 227 grams costs only about 50-60 RMB. Calculated based on 15 grams of powder per cup of pour-over coffee, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, and each cup of American coffee only costs about 4 RMB. Compared with cafes selling dozens of RMB per cup, this is extremely cost-effective.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and unknown beans, while also providing online store services. 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