Honey processing
Honey processing originated in Costa Rica, and this processing method is very common in producing areas such as El Salvador and Costa Rica. Its essence is improved by referring to the semi-sun treatment in Brazil.
Honey processing is a method tried by local coffee farmers to improve the quality of coffee beans, and then slowly spread to other countries. So why are farmers in Costa Rica trying this processing method? Because farmers' income mainly depends on the trade of coffee beans, and better-quality coffee beans can bring higher profits, it is not surprising that farmers are constantly trying new processing methods.
For a coffee producing area, there are three ways to improve the quality of coffee beans: first, improve the processing method; second, change the tree species planted; third, improve the soil quality of the farm, which is to relocate the farm. But just like when we extract coffee, we will first adjust the extraction volume, pressure, and temperature before changing the amount of coffee powder and grinding degree. We will first choose to change the conditions that can save time and money as much as possible. Changing tree species and moving farms is time-consuming and laborious for farmers, so improving processing methods has become their first choice.
honey processing process
1. After picking, the coffee cherries will be collected and screened to select coffee cherries with good quality.
2. The screened coffee cherries will be put into the coffee peeling machine for peeling processing. This step will remove the skin and pulp of the coffee cherries, leaving the pectin layer. The pectin part is the part with the highest fructose content in coffee and is also an important part of coffee processing and fermentation. It can be said that 80% of this part determines the nutritional supply during the processing. Yellow honey retains 60% of pectin, red honey retains 75% of pectin, and black honey removes almost no pectin. The more pectin is retained in the process, the richer and sweeter the final flavor of the coffee will be.
3. Different from water washing treatment, honey treatment will retain part of the pectin for drying. The drying process will reduce the moisture content of the coffee beans to about 11%, and the time will be about 18 to 25 days, which will be determined based on the climate and the experience of the handler.
4. After drying, the coffee beans will be bagged and transported to the warehouse for storage. They will not be shelled until the coffee parchment is removed before export.
Honey processing flavor expression
The honey-processed coffee beans have a better flavor, with a balanced sourness and sweetness. In the same way as the sun-dried method, the aroma of the coffee beans itself will be amplified and the flavor will be richer.
Honey processed color grading
Today, growers grade honey-treated green coffee beans according to their color. There are 3 levels: yellow, red and black. The varying shades of color come from the amount of time the coffee is exposed to light during the drying process.
Yellow honey-processed green coffee beans have the longest exposure time. Longer hours of sunlight mean more heat, so the coffee can be dried in just one week. Generally, coffee drying time depends on local climate, temperature and humidity conditions. The drying time for red honey treated green coffee beans is 2-3 weeks, usually due to weather conditions or being placed in a dark place. If the weather is sunny, growers shade part of the sunlight to reduce the lighting time. Black honey-processed green coffee beans take the longest time to dry in a dark place, and the light time is shorter. The drying time for this type of coffee is at least 2 weeks. Black honey processed green coffee beans have the most complicated process and the highest labor costs, so they are the most expensive.
What is the difference between yellow honey, red honey and black honey?
The three are distinguished based on the time of sun exposure and the amount of pectin, and the amount of pectin and endocarp determines the time of sun exposure. Yellow honey contains 25% endocarp, red honey 50%, and black honey 100%. Therefore, from yellow honey to black honey, the drying time is longer and the management requirements are more stringent.
If we have to pick out the pros and cons among the three, the one with the best taste is black honey. Because the amount of endocarp is the largest, the taste is the richest and stronger. Of course, it also requires the most processes, so the corresponding price will be higher. Front Street Blackberry is black honey-processed coffee from the Costa Rica production area. After medium-light roasting, you can taste the flavors of orange blossom, berries, dried blueberries, and liqueur chocolate during extraction. It is refreshing and sweet when made as a cold brew, explosively sweet when made as a hand-brew, and overflowing with Italian flavor.
So why produce yellow honey and red honey? Coffee farmers also need to consider it from a business perspective. That is to say, producing black honey requires twice as many drying beds as other types, and requires investing more time, manpower and energy; and not all buyers have the financial ability to purchase black honey, so producing yellow honey and red honey can be said to be a choice made for the coffee production environment.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
