Two coffees from the same region can taste very different, and the reason is often not the bean but what happens right after harvest. Processing is one of the biggest influences on flavour, and understanding it makes choosing coffee much easier.
What is coffee processing?
Coffee grows as a cherry around the seed we roast. After picking, the fruit has to be separated from the seed and the seed dried. How that is done shapes sweetness, acidity and body in the cup.
Washed coffee
In the washed method, the fruit is removed before the seed is dried, usually with water. With the fruit gone, the character of the origin comes through clearly. Washed coffees tend to taste clean, bright and well defined, with precise acidity.
Natural coffee
In the natural method, the whole cherry is dried with the fruit intact. The seed absorbs sweetness from the fruit as it dries. Natural coffees tend to taste sweeter and more fruit-forward, often with a heavier body, and they can vary more from lot to lot.
A note on honey processing
Between the two sits the honey process, where part of the fruit is left on the seed while it dries. The result often falls between washed and natural: more sweetness than a washed coffee, with more clarity than a natural.
Washed and natural in our range
- Notr 001 Colombia Huila: washed. Milk chocolate, panela, almond and fresh orange.
- Notr 002 Kenya AA Plus: washed. Citrus, stone fruit, tea and floral notes with a sharp, bright acidity.
- Notr 003 El Salvador Cuzcachapa: washed. Raisin, molasses and pomegranate.
- Notr 004 Ethiopia Yirgacheffe: natural. Blueberry, citrus and floral notes, with a light roast.
Which should you choose?
- If you like a clean, bright, precise cup, start with a washed coffee.
- If you like sweet, fruit-forward flavours, try a natural.
- For espresso, washed coffees are generally the easier place to begin, because they are more consistent to dial in. Naturals can work very well too, with a little more care.
Processing is only one part of how to read a coffee. Our guide to specialty coffee scores covers the rest of the label.
Explore our Specialty Coffee Beans, roasted and packed in Toronto.