How to grade the coffee beans after honey treatment?

The honey treatment of raw coffee beans is to remove the peel and pulp and retain some or all of the mucous membranes (honey).

Today, some Costa Rican growers grade honey-treated coffee beans according to the color of the coffee. There are three levels: yellow, red and black. The change in color results from the length of light during the drying process of coffee.

Methods / steps

Yellow

The light time of raw coffee beans treated with yellow honey was the longest. Longer light means higher heat, so the coffee can be dried within a week. In general, the drying time of coffee depends on the local climate, temperature and humidity.

Red

The drying time of raw coffee beans treated with red honey is 2-3 weeks, usually due to weather or placed in a dark place. If the weather is clear, the grower should block part of the sun to reduce the sunshine time.

3 black

The coffee beans treated with black honey were left in the dark for the longest time and the shorter the light time. The drying time of this coffee is at least 2 weeks. The black honey treatment of raw coffee beans is the most complex and the labor cost is the highest, so the price is the most expensive.