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The Process of Coffee Bean Washing Method_How to Process Washed Coffee Beans_Why Washed Coffee Beans Turn Blue

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange For more coffee bean information Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account cafe_style ) I am a coffee bean, from Huilan, a city located in the southwestern part of Colombia, where the altitude reaches 1800 meters, with unique geographical advantages, under the careful care of coffee farmers, my friends and I live a carefree life,

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

I am a coffee bean from Huilan, a city located in the southwestern part of Colombia. Here, at an altitude of 1800 meters, we have uniquely advantageous geographical conditions. Under the meticulous care of coffee farmers, my fellow beans and I lived carefree lives, growing up happily...

Suddenly one day, the farmer took me away from mother Catrra and even took a beautiful photo of me with a camera.

Later I saw my companions who came with me being stripped of their clothes (oh, how embarrassing!)

Then we were stripped of our clothes, and began the turning point of our lives (oh no, it should be "coffee lives")!

1. Preliminary Selection (Bean Selection)

The coffee farmer said he was going to send us for "training" (washing), so we were placed in a water tank and soaked for about 24 hours. During this time, qualified (ripe) companions would sink, while unqualified (unripe and overripe) companions would float up, and we would be separated from them here.

2. Pulp Removal:

Next came a very painful process. My companions and I had a layer of flesh forcibly removed! A bloody scene, not suitable for children!

We were put into machines, rolling and rolling! It felt like something was constantly tearing at our bodies. Our beautiful clothes (fruit skins) were removed, and a layer of flesh (pulp) was stripped away, leaving only our bodies (coffee beans) wrapped in a layer of parchment (endocarp). At this time, there was still a layer of mucilage on the outside of our bodies. The farmer had told us that the training (washing) process was to wash away this mucilage.

3. Fermentation:

The mucilage on our bodies adheres very strongly and is not easy to remove, so we were placed in tanks for about 18-36 hours to allow the mucilage to ferment and then decompose. In the workshop, I heard workers chatting that there are actually two fermentation methods: wet fermentation and dry fermentation. As the names suggest, the former adds water, while the latter does not. We were soaking in a bath, so it should be wet fermentation, haha. During the fermentation process, I felt myself undergo special changes (I heard this is the step that most affects the flavor of our washed coffee beans during our training (washing method)).

4. Washing:

Congratulations on successfully passing the first three challenges! I and thousands of coffee bean companions were sent to a large pool with continuously flowing fresh water, where we started surfing (being pushed back and forth, using the friction of the beans and the power of flowing water to wash the coffee beans until they were smooth and clean). After everyone played until they were exhausted, we discovered that we had all become clean and beautiful! Wow hahaha...

5. Drying:

After bathing, I was still wrapped in parchment, feeling watery all over. At this time, I was a refreshing handsome guy (moisture content reached 50%)! However, this was not a good thing. If we were not dried at this time to reduce the moisture content to 12%, we would continue to ferment, becoming moldy and spoiled. So for the next few days, we found a place with ample sunlight and sunbathed for almost half a month!

6. Hulling:

After sunbathing, we could finally cool down! At this time, our training was almost complete. For the next few days, my companions and I stayed in the warehouse. Some were sent to factories for hulling (removing parchment and silver skin).

7. Selection and Grading:

A few days ago, a beauty pageant was held in the warehouse where we stayed. Companions with robust bodies and smooth skin were graded according to their scores in the competition. Next comes going abroad for further studies! Let me tell you quietly, I was one of them too!

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