Much like wine, the taste of a cup of coffee varies wildly depending on where the beans grew and how they were processed. While you might be familiar with light and dark roasts at your favorite coffee shop, the processing method can create further sub-varieties in these categories. Washed and natural coffee beans are the two most common techniques.

How Do the Natural & Washed Coffee Bean Processing Methods Differ? 

All coffee beans reside in the center of a larger fruit, or “cherry.” To get to the bean, harvesters must strip away the outer layers, which include the skin, pulp, pectin, and parchment. To make washed or wet-processed coffee beans, manufacturers remove the center of the cherry and dry it. After removing the pulp, they ferment the beans, causing any remaining outer layers to fall away. Then, they will wash the beans and dry them again.

With natural, or dry-processed coffee, the entire cherry undergoes a drying stage. Then, coffee manufacturers peel away the cherry to get to the bean. Finally, they will package the beans together and ship them to your local coffee shop.

How Does This Affect Taste?

Because natural beans stay inside the outer skin for a longer period, they retain fruity flavors from the cherry. When you sip on a cup of coffee made from natural beans, you might taste tangy, sweet notes of blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry.

Alternatively, washed coffee beans are less fruity, which allows more of the inherent flavors of the bean to shine through. Coffee shop veterans often remark that this variety showcases a vibrant, floral, and aromatic edge to their brews. This process can also make the overall cup taste stronger, as you are only getting the flavors of the bean.

When you want to sample the differences between natural and washed coffee beans, visit Black Dot Cultural Center in Lithonia, GA. This celebrated meetup spot has an expansive coffee shop, offering organic brews from Africa, South America, and Indonesia to residents of Metro Atlanta. Whether you want espresso, French press, or cappuccino, our staff can provide a delicious cup and help you deepen your knowledge of coffee-making.