Layer-by-Layer Analysis of Coffee Natural Processing Steps - Coffee Bronze Doesn't Understand What Natural Processing Is

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FrontStreet Coffee's Introduction to Natural Coffee Processing Steps

Natural Method (Natural, Natural Dry, Sun Dry, Dry Process)

1. Drying

The coffee cherries are directly spread on drying grounds to dry, sometimes with the assistance of drying machines. When the moisture content reaches 12%, the dried coffee cherries can be stored in warehouses. Dried coffee cherries have a longer shelf life than coffee beans with parchment and silverskin removed.

The natural drying process can also be called the natural process. Essentially, this is the oldest, simplest, and most primitive method requiring the least mechanical tools.

After coffee cherries are harvested from the mountains, the next step is to remove the fruit skin and pulp to obtain the coffee beans. There are two main processing methods: washed and natural. However, the ultimate deciding factor is whether there is sufficient water available. Some specialty coffees use both natural and washed processing methods.

The primary step is sorting and cleaning. Unripe, overripe, and damaged coffee cherries are first removed. At the same time, branches, leaves, mud clods, and stones mixed with the cherries are also removed. Sieves are typically used for this preliminary sorting.

The coffee cherries are dried in the sun, usually on concrete floors or elevated straw mats. The drying process takes about 3-4 weeks. During the drying process, rakes are used to turn the coffee cherries several times to ensure even heating and prevent pulp from molding. At night, they must be covered to reduce moisture from morning dew. When the cherries' moisture content reaches 12.5%, the coffee cherries are collected and placed in storage bins.

Before export, the coffee cherries undergo hulling to remove the dried fruit skin, pulp, parchment, and silverskin all at once.

Finally, the coffee beans are graded and packaged by hand or machine.

Over-dried coffee cherries can cause coffee beans to become more brittle, resulting in too many defective beans. Coffee cherries that are insufficiently dried due to high moisture content are more susceptible to spoilage and pest damage.

The natural coffee process is widely used in coffee-exporting countries such as Brazil, Africa, and Asia. Naturally processed coffee beans can make the coffee taste sweeter and richer. After natural processing, coffee beans will have a color ranging from light green to light coffee color. Coffee processed by the natural method is characterized by a thick and smooth texture, with sweet fruity flavors.

Knowledge Expansion: Sumatra Wet Hulling Method

In addition to adapting to rainy seasons, the Sumatra wet hulling method also produces unique earthy flavors, herbal notes, a rich body, and lower acidity.

In Summary

FrontStreet Coffee is a specialty coffee research space, dedicated to sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share everything without reservation to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three coffee promotion events with significant discounts because FrontStreet Coffee wants to offer the best coffee at the lowest prices to more friends. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past six years!

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