Wet-Processed Green Coffee¶

Aliases: Washed Coffee, Fully Washed Coffee Tags: #coffee/processing #coffee/green-beans #coffee/production

Overview¶

Wet-processed green coffee undergoes a production method that removes all fruity material from the bean before drying. Developed during the Industrial Revolution to improve physical consistency and cleanliness, this technique is predominantly used for Arabica beans. It emphasises clarity, bright acidity, and terroir-driven origin characteristics.

Process Stages¶

1. Cherry Selection and Sorting¶

Only the ripest cherries are selected through selective harvesting
Cherries are submerged in water tanks to sort quality:
Dense, ripe fruit → sinks → retained
Defective, underdeveloped fruit → floats → discarded

2. De-Pulping¶

Selected cherries are run through mechanical pulping machines
Outer skin and fruit pulp are stripped away
The green bean remains encased in its parchment hull, coated in sticky mucilage

3. Fermentation¶

Parchment-covered beans are placed in concrete water tanks
Duration: 8–24 hours depending on altitude and ambient temperature
Naturally occurring enzymatic activity breaks down pectin in the mucilage layer
Result: beans are completely clean, contributing to the bright, clean cup profile characteristic of washed coffees

4. Washing¶

After fermentation, beans are rinsed thoroughly with fresh water
Removes all remaining fermentation residue

5. Drying¶

Wet parchment coffee is spread to dry via:
Sun drying on raised beds or cement patios
Mechanical drying in rotating gardiolas
Target moisture content: 10.5% – 12%

6. Hulling and Grading¶

Dried parchment coffee is sent to a dry mill
Hulling machines remove the brittle parchment layer
Green beans are graded and prepared for export

Flavour Profile¶

Clean, bright acidity
Clarity of origin characteristics
Low fruit-forward sweetness (compared to natural process)
Consistent and uniform cup quality

Storage Requirements¶

See: Wet Storage of Coffee Beans

Natural Processing
Honey Processing
Green Coffee Storage
Coffee Cherry Anatomy

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