washed or natural: what changes?
You have probably seen washed or natural on a coffee bag. Both describe what happens to the coffee fruit before the beans reach the roaster.
washed: fruit removed before drying
For washed coffee, producers remove the skin and fruit material before the final drying stage. The exact steps vary: they may use fermentation, washing or mechanical removal.
Washed coffees often have clear, distinct flavours. But washed does not mean one particular taste. Sweetness, fruit notes and acidity vary from lot to lot.
natural: dried inside the fruit
For natural coffee, the picked fruit dries around the seeds. The dried outer material is removed afterwards. The weather and the way the producer handles drying matter too.
Natural coffees can have pronounced fruit notes, but some show nutty or chocolate-like flavours. Read the tasting notes rather than expecting every natural coffee to taste like berries.
try two coffees from our range
Guatemala Oriente is washed. Its listed notes are red apple, raisin, cedar and lemon. Burundi Baho is natural, with citrus, red berries and hazelnut notes.
Both are in our mixed drip sets. Brew them the same way and see which you prefer. They come from different origins and lots, so processing is only one reason they taste different.
a clue, not the whole cup
The plant, where it grows, the ripeness of the fruit, processing, roasting and brewing all play a part. Use processing as one clue alongside the tasting notes.
When you compare coffees, keep your preparation consistent. Notice what you enjoy, then use those flavours to choose your next bag.
sources & further reading
find your next cup
Explore seven coffees in a drip set, or choose whole beans for your brewer.