"Is it enough to just wash the coffee beans for water washing?"
"Can the sun-drying process just take the coffee beans and dry them?"
"Is the honey treatment done by adding honey to the coffee beans?"
The significance of coffee bean processing
The coffee bean itself is the core part of the coffee berry. The purpose of the coffee processing method is to remove the skin, pulp and pectin mucilage of the berry without damaging the coffee bean as much as possible, and then through final sun exposure/machine drying so that the green coffee beans can be stored for a long time, instead of simply washing the coffee beans, drying them or adding honey~
First, let’s briefly understand the processing steps of washing, sun drying and honey processing.
"Washed processing method" After the coffee fruits are harvested, complete mature fruits are selected. After the peel and pulp are removed by a machine, the coffee beans are put into a fermentation tank with a clean water source for fermentation along with the pectin mucilage. After standing for 12-36 hours, abundant microorganisms will form in the fermentation tank to decompose the pectin mucilage. After the decomposition is completed, wash it with plenty of water, dry it in the sun until the moisture content of the green coffee beans is 10%-13%, and then store it~
"Solar processing method" After the coffee fruits are harvested, the complete mature fruits are selected and dried by sunlight. During this period, you need to keep turning it to avoid uneven drying of the coffee cherries. The drying time usually takes 3-4 weeks. When the coffee cherries become hard and dark red and black, and the moisture content of the green coffee beans reaches 10%-13%, you can use tools to remove the dark red and black outer casing and store it~
"Honey processing method" After the coffee fruits are harvested, complete mature fruits are selected, the peel and pulp are removed by machine but part of the pectin is retained (black honey does not remove pectin, red honey retains 70%-80% pectin; yellow honey retains 40%-60% pectin, and white honey retains 30% pectin) and then dried in the sun/shade. The drying time will vary depending on the pectin content. Finally, the green coffee beans can be stored after drying to a moisture content of 10%-13%~
Distinguish the processing method from the color and taste of green coffee beans
"Washed-processed green coffee beans" Washed-processed green coffee beans appear blue-green. There is an incomplete film (silver skin of coffee beans) on the surface of the green beans, exuding the sour aroma of citrus fruits and the smell of grass.
"Sun-processed green coffee beans" sun-processed green coffee beans are yellow-green in color. There is a complete film (silver skin of coffee beans) on the surface of the green beans. They exude a slight fermentation aroma, berry sweetness and grassy aroma.
"Honey-processed green coffee beans" Honey-processed green coffee beans have uneven color (caused by the penetration of pectin sugar). Depending on the amount of pectin retained, the color of green coffee beans will appear brown (most pectin is retained) - light yellow (some pectin is retained) - cyan (a small amount of pectin is retained). There is an incomplete film (coffee shop silver skin) on the surface of the green beans. The more pectin content is retained, the stronger the fermentation smell is, with the sweetness of fudge and the smell of grass.
How to identify processing methods based on the appearance of cooked coffee beans
"Washed-processed coffee beans" The silver skin of washed-processed green beans cannot completely fall off during the roasting process, so that there will be silver skin residue in the middle of the coffee beans, showing a white center line.
"Sun-processed coffee beans" The silver skin of sun-processed green beans can completely fall off during the roasting process. There will be no silver skin residue in the middle of most coffee beans, so there will be no white center line.
"Honey-processed coffee beans" honey-processed green beans cannot completely fall off the silver skin during the roasting process, and will also show a white center line. The difference in pectin content will cause the sugar to penetrate unevenly into the coffee beans, resulting in inconsistent "coloring" during roasting. After roasting, the partially honey-processed coffee beans will show uneven color.
Distinguishing processing methods based on coffee flavor expression
"Flavor expression of washed coffee beans" The fermentation process of washed coffee beans will produce more acidity, so the coffee beans will taste brighter and clearer, and the levels will be richer. At the same time, Front Street believes that the washing method is not "modified" by the sugar in the pulp, and can best reflect the cleanliness of a coffee bean. To taste washed coffee, be sure to buy Front Street Fruit Cooperative. This is a classic Yirgacheffe. You can taste fresh lemon, honey, and green tea flavors when brewing.
"Sun-dried Coffee Bean Flavor Expression" Sun-dried processing uses the whole fruit to be directly dried. The sugar in the pectin of the pulp can be converted into the coffee beans. At the same time, the decomposition of the sugar will produce a fermented taste, so it will have a slight fermentation aroma and a soft sweet and sour taste. Front Street believes that the fullness of sun-dried coffee is higher than that of washed coffee, and the cleanliness is better than that of honey-processed coffee. Front Street Sun-dried Coffee is the first choice. After medium-light roasting, it shows the delicate flavor of fragrant flowers, creamy strawberry, citrus, and black tea.
"Flavor expression of honey-processed coffee beans" During the honey-processing process, the sun directly shines on the pectin of the fruit pulp, which allows the sugar to be better converted into the coffee beans and produces a rich fermentation feeling. Therefore, when you drink it, you will have an obvious fruit fermentation aroma, and the sweetness is higher than that of sun-exposed coffee beans. Front Street believes that honey-processed coffee has a fuller, richer and more mellow taste, but the concentration of flavor makes honey-processed coffee beans lack layering. We strongly recommend Front Street Blackberry, which is processed using Costa Rica’s unique black honey, so it has a prominent sweetness and is very suitable for those who are afraid of bitterness.
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
