What is honey process coffee?
4 min read
Honey process means removing the cherry's skin but leaving some or all of the sticky mucilage on the bean while it dries. There is no honey in it: the name comes from the sticky, golden look. The cup is sweeter and rounder than a washed coffee and cleaner than a natural.
Halfway between washed and natural
A washed coffee has all the fruit removed before drying. A natural keeps the whole cherry on. Honey process sits in the middle. The skin comes off in a pulping machine, but the sugary mucilage stays on the parchment while the bean dries in the sun.
Yellow, red and black honey
Producers often name honey coffees by colour. The colour reflects how much mucilage is left and how slowly the beans dry. Terms vary from farm to farm, so treat them as a rough guide.
| Style | Mucilage left | Drying | Typical cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow honey | Less | Faster, more sun | Light, clean, gentle sweetness |
| Red honey | More | Slower, some shade | Fuller, red fruit, caramel |
| Black honey | Most | Slowest, covered | Rich, jammy, closest to a natural |
Compare: Honey / pulped natural vs Washed →
Why producers like it
Honey process uses much less water than washing, which matters on estates where water is scarce at harvest time. It also lets a producer add sweetness and body to a coffee without the risk of an overripe natural.
How to brew it
- Pour-over brings out its sweetness clearly.
- AeroPress gives a rich, rounded cup.
- Makes a sweet, balanced espresso at medium roast.
Tip: Honey coffees are forgiving. If you are just getting into black coffee, a honey process medium roast is a friendly place to start.
Honey process coffees
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Questions
Does honey process coffee contain honey?
No. The name describes the sticky mucilage that looks like honey as it dries.
Is honey process sweeter?
Usually, yes. The sugars in the mucilage add sweetness and body compared with a washed coffee.
Is 'pulped natural' the same thing?
It is very close. Pulped natural is the Brazilian name for a similar method.
Read next
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Every coffee ferments on the way from cherry to bean. Here is what that means and which flavours it creates.
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