Washed vs Natural Coffee Processing: What’s the Difference?

You may have noticed two words recurring on coffee bag labels regardless of the country of origin: washed and natural.

What do these terms mean? What is the difference between washed vs natural coffee? Keep reading to learn more about how these two factors impact the final cup.

How Coffee Gets from Seed to Cup

Most of us know that all coffee beans start their journey as bright red or yellow cherries. Factors like country of origin and roast level affect the final cup profile.

But did you know that how unroasted green coffee beans are processed also has a massive impact on the flavor of the final cup? In other words, the same Colombian coffee bean’s final cup profile can change depending on whether it was processed using the dry or natural method, washed method, or processed using an alternate method, like pulp natural.

So how do you go about selecting the best coffee beans? What’s the difference between washed and natural coffees? Keep reading to learn about all that and more.

The Anatomy of a Coffee Cherry

But first, let’s talk a bit about anatomy. We’ll keep this quick, we promise.

The pericarp consists of three layers: the peel, the mucilage/pulp, and the parchment. You must remove all three layers before roasting the coffee bean.

Natural Coffee Processing

In natural processing, you first place the coffee cherries into a water tank, where the under-ripe and overripe cherries are discarded. Then, the remaining coffee cherries are placed in flat, raised beds and left out to dry under the sun. Every so often, coffee farmers rake and turn the cherries to ensure they dry evenly and that no mold or rot develops. This process can take up to six weeks, depending on the climate.

Generally, this method works best in climates with relatively low precipitation, like Ethiopia. Also, because the beans are left to dry naturally, the flavors are slightly less consistent from cup to cup.

For an in-depth look at the amount of detailed work that goes into naturally-processed coffee, watch this video of coffee farmers in Ethiopia.

Washed Coffee Process

In the washed coffee processing method, also known as wet processing, you place coffee cherries into the hopper of a coffee mill.

Next, these cherries land in a tank full of water, where you sort them to eliminate the under-ripe and over-ripe cherries. Coffee cherries that make the cut go into a fermentation tank, where they’ll be held for up to 72 hours.

Wash processing yields less complex flavors. Still, some coffee farmers and roasters prefer this method because it yields a more consistent cup profile (3).

De-Pulping

Before roasting the beans, the coffee cherries must be de-pulped to remove the peel, fruit, and parchment. This is the rule in both natural and wet coffee processing methods. 

In the washed processing method, the coffee cherries are de-pulped by passing through various filters before they finally come to rest in a fermentation tank.

In the natural method, however, the coffee cherries are only stripped of their peel, mucilage, and parchment. You de-pulp them only after layers have dried over the bean.

Difference between Washed and Natural Coffee Flavor Profiles

All this info is great, but how does natural and dry processing affect the flavor?

Since natural processing leaves the peel, pulp, and parchment intact, farmers can develop more complex flavors through fermentation. Microorganisms gradually break down the proteins, sugars, and other substances in the coffee cherry’s pulp, which results in lower acidity and more sweetness in the final cup.

By contrast, washed processing allows the bean’s natural flavor to shine. While enzymes still initiate chemical changes within the bean, the lack of peel, pulp, or parchment means there is necessarily less sugar for the microorganisms to break down. This results in less overall sweetness and more acidity (2).

According to Veronica Belchior:

Washed vs Dry Coffee Cup Profiles

Naturally-processed coffee beans taste fruity and winy due to their prolonged exposure to complex sugars in the coffee cherry’s pulp. There are definite blueberry and strawberry notes on the nose, and the flavor can bring caramel sweetness and even chocolate to the cup. Lastly, naturally-processed coffees tend to be medium to full-bodied.

By contrast, washed coffees have a more acidic bite, and the acidity is reminiscent of lemons and limes. However, natural flavors of the bean, like floral and spice notes, shine through much more readily since there’s less contact with the sugars in the pulp. Finally, washed coffees are generally lighter in body, too.

Interested in more unusual processing methods? Watch Steven from Home Grounds sample some experimentally processed coffees in this video:

Final Thoughts

The difference between washed and natural processed coffees lies in the flavor of the final cup. Washed coffees will give you more bright, floral notes, while natural processed coffees yield a much sweeter, fruitier flavor profile.

Have you tried both washed and natural coffees? Which one do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below or in our Home Grounds Facebook group.