What Does Red Honey Processed Coffee Mean - Non-Acidic, Sweet Aftertaste Like Honey

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FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Honey Process

High-quality coffee beans from Costa Rica are known as "Strictly Hard Bean" (SHB), followed by "Good Hard Bean" (GHB) and "Slightly Hard Bean" (SH) in descending quality order. Strictly Hard Beans grow at altitudes above 1,500 meters. Altitude has always represented the quality of coffee - higher altitude means better quality. At high altitudes, nighttime temperatures are low, causing trees to grow slowly and extending the maturation period of coffee cherries. This allows coffee cherries to better absorb more nutrients, resulting in richer coffee flavors.

Honey process refers to using a depulping machine to remove the outer skin while retaining the mucilage and placing it directly outdoors for drying. The mucilage part is relatively sticky and slippery, rich in sugar content. During the drying process, it's not difficult to notice that it looks as if it's coated with honey while drying. People call this mucilage "honey" and name this processing method "honey process."

Honey process is a processing method that falls between the natural (dry) process and washed process. It allows coffee to retain the cleanliness of the washed process while increasing the sweetness and caramel notes of the coffee since it's dried together with the pulp and mucilage. Processing methods that retain more pulp and mucilage result in coffee with richer flavors and higher sweetness.

Black Honey (100% pulp retention)

This requires the longest drying time, lasting at least 2 weeks. Coverings are used to avoid excessive sunlight and prevent drying too quickly, allowing for more complete sugar conversion.

Red Honey (80% pulp retention)

Compared to yellow honey, this requires a longer drying time and reduces direct sun exposure time, even using shade structures, lasting about 12 days.

Yellow Honey (60% pulp retention)

The drying method requires the most direct heat absorption, receiving the most sunlight for drying, reaching stable moisture content in about 8 days.

White Honey (50% pulp retention)

The main difference between white honey process and yellow honey process is the "distinction in drying thickness." Drying thickness determines drying speed and uniformity, which in turn affects the coffee's sweetness and fermentation degree.

Knowledge point: According to the degree of mucilage retention, honey processes are also divided into yellow honey, black honey, and others.

In short: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center that enjoys sharing coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation only to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Every month, we hold three low-discount coffee events because FrontStreet Coffee wants to let more friends enjoy the best coffee at the lowest price. This has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for the past 6 years!

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