Washed coffee beans vs. sun-dried coffee beans: a battle of craftsmanship

Washed coffee beans vs. sun-dried coffee beans: a battle of craftsmanship

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and making a cup of high-quality coffee is inseparable from the careful treatment of coffee beans. In this process, washed coffee and sun-dried coffee are two common processes. This article will discuss these two processes and explore their respective advantages and disadvantages.

1. Washing process

The washed coffee process involves soaking the picked ripe coffee berries in water, removing the pulp and mucus through stirring and screening. The cleaned coffee beans are then placed in a cool and ventilated place for fermentation, rinsing, drying, and other processes.

The water washing process has the following advantages:

• Remove odor: After multiple cleaning and screening, the washed coffee beans have no residual pulp or other impurities, so the taste is purer.
• Maintaining acidity: The water washing process can effectively remove the pulp on the surface of the coffee beans, reducing the impact on the inside of the coffee beans and allowing the coffee to maintain a higher acidity.
• Improve transparency: The washed coffee beans are lighter in color and more transparent, making the ground coffee powder more uniform and delicate.

However, the water washing process also has some disadvantages:

• High energy consumption: Since a large amount of water is required for cleaning and treatment, the water washing process increases energy consumption to a certain extent.
• Possible environmental pollution: Extensive use of water resources may lead to waste discharge and environmental pollution problems.

2. Sun drying process

Sun drying refers to exposing the picked ripe coffee cherries directly to the sun for drying. This process requires frequent stirring and screening to ensure uniform drying and prevent problems such as mold. After drying, it is necessary to remove the shells and screen them.

The advantages of sun drying are as follows:

• Simple and easy: Compared with the water washing process, the operation process of the sun drying process is simpler and does not require a large amount of water and equipment.
• Low energy consumption: Since no additional energy consumption is required, the solarization process is more energy-efficient.
• Preserve Natural Flavor: Coffee beans are dried naturally in the sun to preserve their natural flavor and characteristics.

However, the solarization process also has some disadvantages:

• Easily affected by climate: The sun drying process is greatly affected by factors such as temperature and humidity, which may cause large fluctuations in quality.
• Prone to mold: If the drying is uneven or the humidity is too high, the coffee beans are prone to mold and produce odors.

3. Conclusion

In summary, there are certain differences between washed coffee beans and sun-dried coffee beans. The washed process can remove odors, maintain acidity and improve transparency, but it consumes more energy and may cause environmental pollution. The sun-dried process is simple, low-energy and retains natural flavor, but it is easily affected by climate and prone to mold.

Therefore, when choosing a coffee bean processing method, you need to weigh various factors according to the specific situation. If you pursue a coffee with a pure taste and high acidity, the washed process is a good choice; if you focus on simple operation and energy conservation, you can consider the sun drying process. No matter which method you choose, you should ensure that environmental protection principles are followed during the production process and strictly control the quality to ensure the quality of the final product.