Coffee Processing: Learn About Bean Preparation Methods
The article emphasizes that quality coffee involves dedicated work from cultivation to final processing. The main sections include:
Pre-Drying Phase
Induced Fermentation
In sealed barrels to create exotic flavors.
Wet Hulling
Removes the cherry skin while preserving the mucilage.
Natural/Dry Method
Spreads the cherries to dry in the sun for weeks.
Wet Method
Uses pulping machines and fermentation tanks (12-48 hours).
Drying Stage
Beans are spread in thin layers on drying patios and regularly turned until they reach 11% moisture before storage.
Preparation for Storage and Sales
Beans must be promptly stored in sacks or Big Bags, kept in clean, dark spaces, away from walls and moisture.
Specialty Coffee Distinctions
Premium coffees require harvesting only the ripest fruits, typically using the wet method, with careful attention to homogeneous lots throughout processing to maintain exceptional quality standards.