The Honey Process Coffee Method

By Elise Mastantuono

Owner of Ninja Girl Coffee | 4th degree Taekwondo black belt | 2nd degree Hapkido black belt

Well, hello there my caffeinated compadres! If you're asking yourself about honey process coffee, then you're in for a treat.

So, what exactly is honey process coffee? Well, in a nutshell, it's a method of processing coffee beans that involves leaving some of the sweet, sticky fruit mucilage on the beans during the drying process. This can impart a range of interesting and unique flavors to the coffee, depending on how much mucilage is left on the beans and how long they're allowed to dry.

 There are actually several different types of honey process coffee, each with its own name and level of mucilage removal. The most common types are:

Yellow Honey Process

Yellow Honey is the lightest version, with only a small amount of mucilage left on the beans during drying. It tends to produce a mild, clean cup with some fruity or floral notes.

Red Honey Process

This type involves leaving more mucilage on the beans during drying, resulting in a deeper, more complex flavor profile with some honey and caramel notes.

Black Honey Process

The darkest and most intense version of honey process coffee, with almost all of the mucilage left on the beans during drying. It can produce a very sweet, syrupy cup with strong fruit and chocolate notes.

So, is honey process coffee better than other processing methods? Well, that's a matter of taste, of course. Honey process is known for its sweetness, complexity, and depth of flavor. Those who enjoy this method often note a pleasant fruity or floral aroma, along with notes of caramel, chocolate, and even honey.

So there you have it, my friends - the sweet and sticky world of honey process coffee.