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Home / Brewing Guides/ Introduction to the types of coffee bean processing methods | What is the difference in taste between sun-dried coffee beans and washed coffee beans? What is the reason for the difference in flavor of sun-dried and washed coffee beans?

Introduction to the types of coffee bean processing methods | What is the difference in taste between sun-dried coffee beans and washed coffee beans? What is the reason for the difference in flavor of sun-dried and washed coffee beans?

2026.10.20 FrontStreet Coffee 342
Friends who have paid attention to the event push in the past two days should have noticed that the two stores on Front Street, 🍑Bao and Tian🐱, have newly launched the washed Jade Manor·Diamond Hill. Then some friends were very curious: "They are both Diamond Mountain. What is the difference between this washed treatment and the sun-dried treatment on the shelves before?

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Then I saw Front Street in the background, some friendsWith this question in mind,I placed an order for sun drying and washing at the same time.Diamond HeadPrepare to go home and compare. So back to the question itself, what is the difference between washed and sun-dried coffee?
So today, Front Street will use Front Street Jade Manor Diamond Hill on the bean list to give you the answers to these two questions! First, let’s review the differences in processing steps~

Differences in processing procedures


The process of tanning is quite simple! As Front Street often mentions, it’s the same way we dry peanuts. Conventional sun-drying treatment is to send the harvested coffee berries to a drying factory, and then lay them directly on the ground or drying bed to dry them in the sun. After the coffee is dried to a certain level, it can be recycled, and then a shelling machine is used to remove the parchment covering the coffee beans, and the sun-drying process is completed.

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The process of washing with water is relatively cumbersome, with several more steps than sun drying. When the coffee cherries are harvested, they are firstflotation, by soaking the coffee cherries in water to screen out the unripe cherries. The selected coffee cherries will then be thrown into a peeling machine to remove the skin and pulp! After the removal is complete, the coffee beans that retain pectin and parchment skin will be soaked in water to remove the pectin;


After soaking for a certain period of time, the coffee beans will be transferred to another clean pool, and then manually stirred to remove the pectin remaining on the surface of the coffee beans. After the removal is completed, these coffee beans with only the parchment layer will be moved to the sun drying field for drying. After drying to a certain level, they can be recycled. Finally, the parchment layer of the coffee beans is removed with a shelling machine, and the washing process is completed!

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I believe that through the above introduction, you can find that the washing process adds the step of removing the peel and pulp pectin before drying the coffee beans. By adding such a step, the drying time of coffee beans will be greatly shortened and the degree of fermentation will be greatly reduced. This is also one of the reasons for the difference in taste between sun-dried and washed coffee beans.


So, what is the difference in flavor between washed and sun-dried coffee beans? Next, Front Street will use Front Street Jade Manor·Sun-dried/Washed Diamond Mountain in the bean list to show you the difference between the two different treatments!


(On the left is the sun-baked Diamond Mountain, and on the right is the water-washed Diamond Mountain)
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Brew and share
Since both are traditional processes and have the same degree of roasting, the parameters used in this brewing process are the same and the brewing process is skipped directly. The parameters are as follows:

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Beans for brewing: Front Street Jade Manor·Washed Diamond Hill/Front Street Jade Manor·Sun-dried Diamond Hill
Amount of powder used: 15g
Grinding degree: 10 scale of EK43, 80% screening rate of No. 20 mesh, fine sugar grinding
Pink to water ratio: 1:15
Brewing water temperature: 92°C
Brewing method: three-stage
Use filter cup: V60
Brewing time: 2 minutes

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Front Street Emerald Manor · Sunshine Diamond Hill:You can clearly taste the fruit aroma similar to citrus, persimmon, and berry at the entrance. The texture is as solid as honey, and the aftertaste exudes the aroma of cocoa and fermentation. When the temperature drops slightly, the sweetness becomes more obvious. The overall comprehensive evaluation is that the aroma is outstanding, the layers are rich, and the taste is balanced.


Front Street Emerald Manor·Washed Diamond Hill:The first thing you taste at the entrance is fresh and bright acidity like grapefruit and lemon, with an elegant floral aroma. The taste is clean and smooth, and the aftertaste is the aroma of green tea and cocoa. The overall comprehensive evaluation is that the acidity is bright, the taste is clean, and the flavor is fresh, just like drinking a cup of very refreshing fruit green tea.

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From the above comparison, I believe it is not difficult for everyone to see that there is a certain difference in the taste of washed and sun-dried Diamond Mountain. Sun-dried Diamond Mountain will have richer layers and a more balanced flavor, while washed Diamond Mountain will have a cleaner, fresher taste.

Why is there such a difference between sun drying and washing?


Since the sun treatment will retain the peel, pulp, and pectin to wrap the coffee beans for drying, the overall drying time will be longer. During the drying process, the sugar in the pectin of the pulp will be affected by sunlight and ferment, bringing a richer flavor to the coffee. And because the drying time is longer, the overall degree of fermentation of the coffee will be deeper. In addition to the complex and varied fruit flavor, the coffee will also have a certain fermentation aroma.

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The washing process removes the peel, pulp, and pectin and then puts the coffee beans into drying, so the drying time is relatively shorter and the degree of fermentation will not be as deep. Since the degree of fermentation is not deep, the coffee shows more of the aroma of the beans themselves and is cleaner. This is why it is often said that the flavor of washed coffee is the basic flavor of a production area.

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Then some friends may find that compared to the sun-dried Diamond Mountain, the water-washed taste seems to be more sour. Yes! But the main cause of caffeic acid comes from the degree of roasting. Although both are medium-light roasted, Front Street uses a slightly lighter roasting level for the washed Diamond Hill compared to sun-drying, because this can better highlight its floral and fruity charm. When the roasting degree of coffee is darker, the acidity of the coffee is less, and the lighter the roasting degree, the acidity is more, so the washed Diamond Mountain will be slightly sour.


Even if the same roasting curve is used, the sun-dried beans will have more sugar attached, resulting in a more complete caramelization reaction and a deeper roasting degree. So naturally, the coffee will not taste so sour. Therefore, compared to the influence of processing, what determines the taste of coffee is actually more the degree of roasting of coffee beans.

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However, whether it is sun-dried or washed, the flavor expression of coffee has its own characteristics, so there is no distinction between good and bad. There is no comparison at all. Which process is better mainly depends on personal taste. So, here comes the problem on Front Street! In front of the screen, do you prefer washing or sun exposure?

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

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