Coffee culture

Characteristics of Washed Coffee Beans: The Distinctive Features of Kenya's Washed Processing Method

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 official account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Washed Coffee Characteristics Sharing. Washed Processing Method: The washed processing method is one of the most popular among the three major processing methods, with most specialty coffee beans choosing the washed method. Washed method process: Bean selection → pulp removal → fermentation → washing → drying → hulling → sorting and grading → export.

Professional Coffee Knowledge Exchange

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

FrontStreet Coffee - Kenya Washed Coffee Characteristics Sharing

Washed Processing Method

The washed processing method is one of the more popular among the three major processing methods, with most specialty coffee beans choosing the washed method.

Washed method process: Bean selection → Pulp removal → Fermentation → Washing → Drying → Hulling → Sorting and grading → Export.

Advantages: Coffee beans processed through the washed method don't need to worry about mold issues, and the coffee quality is more stable.

Disadvantages: The process is complicated, requiring a continuous supply of fresh water for washing, making it relatively expensive.

Flavor characteristics: Washed coffee is clean without miscellaneous flavors, with a refreshing taste. The coffee usually has bright acidity and fruit aroma, such as Ethiopian and Kenyan coffees that possess extremely clear flavors.

Washed coffee has a close relationship with the coffee bean's inherent flavor. The origin and environmental conditions play a crucial role in enhancing flavors. Almost 100% of washed flavor depends on the natural sugars and nutrients absorbed by the coffee beans during their growth cycle. This method aims to taste the internal flavor of the coffee beans rather than additional flavors attached to the bean surface.

Kenya Embu Washed

Region: Embu

Varieties: SL28, SL34

Altitude: 1600 to 2000 meters

Processing method: Washed

Flavor: Plum, black currant, raspberry, tomato

Brewing: Water temperature 91°C, water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, grind size BG-6S, V60 dripper, water-to-coffee ratio 1:15, first pour 30g, bloom for 28-30s, second pour 120g water then stop, third pour to 220g water, don't use the tail water, extraction time around 2:00s.

Knowledge Expansion

Kenya borders Ethiopia, the origin of coffee, but it wasn't until 1983 that French missionaries brought coffee seeds to Kenya from Réunion Island (French: La Réunion), making its coffee history more than a thousand years later than its neighboring countries.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

0