WHAT IS HONEY COFFEE PROCESSING ?

Honey (Semi-Washed) Processing strikes a balance between natural and washed methods, offering a unique flavor profile by partially removing the fruit from the beans before drying.

In this method, coffee cherries are de-pulped, but some of the mucilage (honey-like layer) is left intact during drying. This method requires careful control to ensure the beans develop their characteristic sweetness and body.

This process, produces coffee with a rich, syrupy body, moderate acidity, and complex flavors. Honey processing is favored by those who enjoy a balanced cup with both sweetness and brightness.

VARIOUS STAGES OF HONEY COFFEE PROCESSING

  • img link

    1.

    De-pulping the Cherries

    Fresh cherries are de-pulped, leaving some mucilage (sticky, gel-like substance found on the outside of coffee beans) on the beans to enhance sweetness and body.

  • img link

    2.

    Drying the Beans with Mucilage

    The beans are dried with their mucilage on drying beds, requiring frequent turning to ensure even drying and prevent mold until they reach the desired moisture content.

  • img link

    3.

    Hulling and Milling

    Once dried, the beans undergo hulling to remove the parchment and any remaining mucilage, followed by milling to produce clean coffee beans ready for roasting.

FLAVOURS OFFERED BY HONEY PROCESSED COFFEE

Nutty flavor notes in honey sun-dried coffee are due to the particular method of drying the beans. , which leaves mucilage on the beans while they dry slowly in the sun. This extended drying time enhances complex flavors, including nuttiness. The Maillard reaction during roasting and the presence of nutty-flavored compounds like pyrazines further accentuate these notes.

The residual mucilage contains natural sugars and organic compounds that interact with the beans during the drying. As the beans dry with this mucilage, enzymatic reactions occur, allowing the sugars and other compounds to penetrate the beans and influence their flavor. The result is often characterized by sweet, fruity notes and a pronounced cocoa undertone.

RANGE OF OUR HONEY PROCESSED COFFEE