Nav: Home > Coffee Knowledge >

The method of taking beans and sun treatment in the primary processing of coffee beans

Published: 2026-04-02 Author: World Gafei

Last Updated: 2026/04/02, Tanning is a traditional method for the initial processing of coffee beans, and at present, almost all coffee-growing countries such as Ethiopia and Yemen still use solarization to treat raw beans. Sun treatment will first identify sunken beans in the sink, that is, ripe or half-ripe beans are spread in the drying farm for natural drying. The specific time depends on the local climatic conditions, which usually takes two to four weeks.

Tanning is a traditional method for the initial processing of coffee beans, and at present, almost all coffee-growing countries such as Ethiopia and Yemen still use solarization to treat raw beans.

Sun treatment will first identify sunken beans in the sink, that is, ripe or half-ripe beans are spread in the drying farm for natural drying. The specific time depends on the local climatic conditions, which usually takes two to four weeks. When the moisture of the coffee bean is reduced to 12%, then use a sheller to grind off the hard pulp and silver skin.

The sun treatment has a very high requirement on the climate, and if you encounter a rainy day in the sun, it will make the beans moist and moldy.

When drying raw beans in the sun, the color is yellow, and the center will be brown after baking, rather than the white of washed beans.

Sun beans have relatively better sweetness and mellow thickness, while less sour taste, but the quality is more unstable, there will be greater fluctuations.

Due to the low cost of tanning, it is widely used not only in Ethiopia and Yemen, but also in Robbins grown in Africa and Indonesia.

FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou China, selling freshly roasted beans from its own farm in Yunnan as well as dozens of carefully selected single-origin beans from around the world for both pour-over and espresso. The products deliver consistently excellent quality and great value, with shipping within 24 hours. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers, and the beans are now available online at the Tmall 。