Washed, Natural, or Honey? Why Your Coffee Tastes the Way It Does

You’ve seen it on the bag. You’re standing in your kitchen, half-awake, reading the fine print on your latest coffee purchase. Under the country of origin, it says something like "Process: Natural" or "Washed."

If you’re like most people, you probably nodded sagely, pretended to know what that meant, and proceeded to brew it.

But here is the truth: aside from where the coffee is grown, processing is the single biggest factor in how your coffee tastes. It’s the difference between a cup that tastes like a crisp green apple and a cup that tastes like a blueberry muffin.

Let’s peel back the layers (literally) and find out how processing changes the game.

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Wait, Coffee is a Fruit?

Yes! Before it becomes the brown bean you grind, coffee is the seed inside a red (or yellow) fruit called a coffee cherry.

Processing is simply the method used to divorce the fruit from the seed.

• Do we rip the fruit off immediately?
• Do we let it dry on the seed like a raisin?
• Do we do something weird in the middle?

How the producer answers that question determines whether your morning brew is "clean and crisp" or "wild and funky."

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1. Washed Process (The "Clean Freak")

AKA: Wet Process.

This is the standard for high-quality coffee, especially in places like Colombia and Kenya. In this method, the fruit skin and pulp are removed immediately after harvest. The beans are then fermented in water tanks to scrub off any remaining sticky fruit goo (mucilage) before being dried.

Because the bean dries without any fruit attached, you taste the seed and nothing but the seed.

• The Vibe: Elegant, sparkling, and high-definition.
• Flavor Profile: High acidity, floral notes, citrus, and a light-to-medium body.
• Pick this if: You love a clean cup where you can taste the specific origin of the bean. You prefer tea-like qualities over heavy sweetness.

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2. Natural Process (The "Wild Child")

AKA: Dry Process.

This is the oldest method in the book (originally from Ethiopia). Here, the producer picks the coffee cherries and lays them out on patios or raised beds to dry in the sun with the fruit still on.

It’s like turning a grape into a raisin. As the fruit dries, the bean inside absorbs all those sugars and fruit flavors.

• The Vibe: Big, bold, and unapologetically fruity.
• Flavor Profile: Berries (strawberry, blueberry), tropical fruit, jam, winey notes, and a heavy, syrupy body.
• Pick this if: You want a "fruit bomb" or have a sweet tooth. It’s also a great gateway drug for people who think "all coffee tastes the same."

Editor’s Note: Naturals can be polarizing! Some people love the funk; others think it tastes a bit like fermented fruit juice. We say: embrace the funk.

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3. Honey Process (The Middle Ground)

AKA: Pulped Natural.

Confusingly, there is no actual honey involved. (Sorry to disappoint).

This method sits right between Washed and Natural. The skin of the cherry is removed, but the sticky, sugary layer of fruit flesh (the mucilage) is left on the bean while it dries. This sticky layer looks and feels like honey—hence the name.

• The Vibe: Sweet and rounded. It has the body of a Natural but the clarity of a Washed.
• Flavor Profile: Brown sugar, honey (obviously), nuts, and cooked fruit. Lower acidity than washed coffees.
• Pick this if: You want something sweet and balanced that won’t shock your tastebuds.

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4. The Experimental Stuff (Anaerobic & Carbonic)

If you see words like "Anaerobic Fermentation" or "Carbonic Maceration" on our bags, you’re in for a wild ride.

These are modern, scientific methods where beans are fermented in sealed, oxygen-free tanks (sometimes with CO2 pumped in). It pushes flavor into the bean under pressure.

• The Taste: Intense. Think bubblegum, cinnamon, banana, or lactic (yogurt-like) flavors. It’s coffee turned up to volume 11.

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So, Which One is For You?

The beauty of specialty coffee is that you don't have to choose just one for life. But to help you shop our shelves:

• Team Washed: You like clarity, brightness, and consistency.
• Team Natural: You want fruit, sweetness, and a heavy body.
• Team Honey: You want a sweet, safe bet.

Ready to taste the difference side-by-side? We’ve tagged all our coffees by process so you can find your favorite.