What Is Natural Process Coffee?

Natural process coffee (dry process) dries the whole cherry in the sun before milling. Fruit sugars sit on the bean for weeks, so the cup comes out fruity, heavier, and more wine-like than washed coffee from the same farm.

How it is made

Cherries go on raised beds or patios for about 3 to 6 weeks. Then the dried fruit is milled off. Those absorbed fruit compounds are why a natural can taste like blueberry instead of “plain coffee.”

Natural vs washed

Washed coffee removes the fruit first, so the cup is cleaner and brighter. Natural leaves the fruit on during drying, so you get more sweetness and fruit. Neither is better. They are different jobs.

Ethiopia and Yemen are the historic homes of the method. Brazil processes a huge share of its coffee this way, which is part of why a lot of Brazilian coffee tastes nutty and chocolatey instead of floral.

Shop these

• Ethiopia Natural is the clearest natural in our lineup. Blueberry, jasmine, drink it black.
• Brazil Santos is the nutty, chocolate side of natural-leaning Brazil.
• Kenya is washed, so you can taste the other process next to Ethiopia.
• Best Sellers Sample Pack if you want a few profiles before a full bag.

First order: WELCOME15. Restock bags: Buy 2 Get 1 Free (bundles excluded). How to order. Free US shipping on every order.