Washed, Natural, Semi-Washed - What does it all mean?

When browsing coffees you might run across words like washed, natural, semi-washed, honey, or other words under the category of “process” or “processing method”. While these words may add to the confusion, it is actually a very helpful indicator of flavor. These are all names of ways farms process coffee before sending it to roasters. Lets break down what these words mean:

Washed: The fruit is removed, leaving a sticky mucilage that is removed by soaking in a tank of water for 24-36 hours.  The coffee beans are then washed with water and dried in the sun. These coffees are typically clean and bright (tangy acidity). The majority of coffees you encouter are washed coffees.

Natural: The fruit is left on the bean and dried in the sun, like a raisin.  These coffees are sweet and fruit forward.

Semi-Washed/Honey: The fruit is removed as in the washed process, but then the mucilage covered beans are dried in the sun instead of soaking. These coffees are sweet and tend to have nice floral qualities.

The coffee world can often be confusing to navigate, but hopefully this little article helps guide you on your coffee adventure!