Natural Process Coffee Bean Characteristics - Drying Duration & Process Flow

Regarding coffee processing methods, FrontStreet Coffee's store displays several coffee beans processed using different methods. Among these, natural processed coffee beans account for about 40% of FrontStreet Coffee's entire bean selection, including natural processed Yirgacheffe, natural processed Panama Geisha, and natural processed Brazil coffee beans, among others. FrontStreet Coffee believes that the natural processing method is the simplest of all processing methods, requiring only the selected coffee cherries to be spread flat and dried in the sun, with occasional turning to ensure even drying. Today, FrontStreet Coffee will specifically explain the operational process of natural processing and the flavor characteristics of natural processed coffee beans.

FrontStreet Coffee natural processed coffee beans (unpeeled)

FrontStreet Coffee washed processed coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee honey processed coffee beans

Natural Processing Method

The natural processing method, also known as the "natural drying method," is the oldest processing method. Natural drying doesn't require much equipment but demands high weather conditions, requiring continuous sunny days. The drying period lasts as long as 27-30 days. During the coffee drying process, it's worth noting that excessive sun exposure can cause coffee beans to crack, leading to defective beans. Although the operational process is relatively simple, natural processed coffee beans don't have an attractive appearance, making them less popular. Ethiopia is a producing country that widely uses the natural method for coffee processing because Ethiopia has high altitude, dry climate, and scarce water resources. Locals harvest ripe coffee cherries and then spread them flat on net racks to dry.

Natural Processing Procedure

① Collection & Selection

After harvesting, coffee cherries are first manually selected to filter out defective coffee cherries, including overripe, unripe, insect-damaged ones, as well as foreign objects other than the cherries.

② Drying

The selected coffee cherries are sent to drying areas for drying. Different regions may use different drying racks—some may use waterproof tarps, others elevated beds, and some concrete floors. The drying time averages 3 to 4 weeks until the coffee moisture content drops to 11% to complete the drying process.

③ Hulling

After drying is complete, the coffee cherries are sent to processing plants for hulling and even polishing. The pulp and other parts are removed during this step.

④ Selection, Sorting & Storage

The hulled green coffee beans undergo another round of selection to remove coffee beans with poor appearance. This reflects the quality of the coffee drying process—over-dried coffee beans are more fragile and may break into fragments during hulling; while under-dried coffee beans have excessive moisture content, making them prone to bacterial growth and mold. After selection, they are sent to warehouses for storage until export.

FrontStreet Coffee natural Yirgacheffe Aricha green coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee natural Panama Janson Geisha green coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee natural Brazil Queen Manor Farm coffee beans

Although the three coffee beans above are of different varieties, they all use the natural processing method. From their appearance, you can see they all have a yellowish-green color. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will use these three coffee beans—[Natural Yirgacheffe Aricha, Natural Panama Janson Geisha, and Natural Brazil Queen Manor Farm]—as examples to describe their flavors after pour-over brewing.

Coffee Bean | Yirgacheffe Aricha | Panama Janson Geisha | Brazil Queen Manor Farm ---|---|---|--- Country | Ethiopia | Panama | Brazil Region | Yirgacheffe | Boquete | Mogiana Altitude | 1900-2000m | 1750m | 1400-1950m Variety | Local heirloom | Geisha | Yellow Bourbon Processing | Natural | Natural | Natural

FrontStreet Coffee natural Yirgacheffe Aricha coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee natural Panama Janson Geisha coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee natural Brazil Queen Manor Farm coffee beans

FrontStreet Coffee's brewing parameters can be used as reference: V60 dripper, 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, 90°C water temperature, and grind size based on 80% passing through a Chinese standard #20 sieve. The grind size varies for each coffee bean due to factors such as variety, altitude, processing method, and roasting. Therefore, when FrontStreet Coffee receives a new roasted bean, it first sifts through to determine the appropriate pour-over grind. For these three coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee determined the following grind sizes after sifting: BG#5F (Yirgacheffe Aricha), BG#4G (Panama Janson Geisha), and BG#5F (Brazil Queen Manor Farm). However, FrontStreet Coffee suggests that even with the same brand of grinder, it's more precise to sift through once.

In terms of brewing technique, FrontStreet Coffee uses segmented extraction, which is the three-stage pouring method. Pour 30ml of water and bloom for 30 seconds. In the second stage, pour in a circular motion to 125ml. When the water level drops to just before the coffee bed is exposed, continue pouring to 225ml. Total time is 2 minutes (including blooming).

[Yirgacheffe Aricha Coffee Bean Flavor Description]

Has the aroma of ripe fruits, with noticeable fermentation notes upon entry, green grapes. As it cools slightly, there's lemon acidity, cream, and grape juice-like notes in the finish.

[Panama Janson Geisha Coffee Bean Flavor Description]

Maple flavor, lemon citrus notes, apple flavor, rose aroma, dark chocolate fruit notes, pomegranate, ripe grapes, peaches, and dark berry flavors, with multi-layered sweet and tart notes.

[Brazil Queen Manor Farm Coffee Bean Flavor Description]

Has noticeable sweetness with a faint lemon aroma, contains rich nutty flavors, with distinct dark chocolate notes in the finish, presenting an overall rounded sensation.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473