What’s the washed PRocess in coffee?

On their journey from crop to cup, coffee beans go through several steps, including the type of processing method. You may have heard of a few different methods such as: Natural, Washed, Wet-Hulled, Honey. However, we’re going to dive into more detail with one, focusing on the washed method, to see how it specifically shapes the coffee's flavor.

Washed Method:

All ripe coffee cherries are harvested from the coffee trees then sent to a processing facility where they are sorted.

Using the Wet or Washed processing method, a “de-pulping” machine removes the fruity outer skin of the coffee cherry before the beans are sent to the drying beds. Often this pulp is collected, dried, and used to make a tea called “Cascara”.

The freshly de-pulped coffee beans are then sent to a large fermentation tank filled with water to soak for around 18 to 24 hours. During fermentation, micro-organisms from the coffee beans create enzymes that break down the sticky mucilage left on the seeds after the fruit has been removed.

The water is then drained and fresh water is introduced to give the coffee a final wash before sending it to the drying patios. The beans will remain on the drying beds until they reach around 10-12% moisture. The finished product is then collected and bagged for shipment around the world. Washed coffee is known for its clean, refined, and balanced taste in the cup because of these steps.

Next time you spot “washed” on a coffee bag, you will have a better grasp on what it means and how this processing method contributes to the flavors you are experiencing in your cup!

AT VIENNA COFFEE COMPANY…

Our dedication to ensuring that we are a market leader in craft coffee throughout the southeast dictates that we apply the same critical scrutiny used for our complete coffee lineup to any product we offer. 

This commitment demonstrates our continued pursuit to provide craft coffee that enriches the lives of customers and producers alike by providing an experience grounded in excellence and hospitality. We custom pick our green coffee beans from regions across The Coffee Belt and always seek responsible sourcing from seed to cup.

Our roasting team ensures each bean varietal is roasted according to its characteristics to enhance its peak flavors. Vienna Coffee Company goes further by evaluating each varietal harvest through coffee cuppings to evaluate and adjust its roasting profile.

Explore our complete line of coffees online or stop by the Coffee House and let our baristas do the brewing for you. We hope that exploring what we offer (whether its organic, single-origin, a VCC custom blend or your favorite flavored coffee) continues your journey in discovering that “Great Coffee is an Adventure”.