Washed

Washed, or wet process, is a method where the coffee cherry's outer fruit is removed before drying the beans. After harvesting, cherries are pulped to remove the skin and most of the fruit. The beans, still covered in mucilage, undergo fermentation in water tanks for 12-72 hours. This breaks down the remaining fruit layer, which is then washed away. The cleaned beans are then dried. Washed coffees typically have a cleaner, brighter taste profile with more pronounced acidity and clarity of flavor. This process allows the inherent characteristics of the bean to shine through, often resulting in floral, citrusy, and tea-like notes. It's water-intensive but offers more consistent results and is widely used in regions like Central America and Colombia.