Coffee Production & Farming

How to Improve Quality When Drying

Washed Coffees
, August 18, 2017
Home Coffee Production & Farming How to Improve Quality When Drying Washed Coffees

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Washed/wet-processed coffees are known for their brilliant cleanness. They allow the flavours of
the coffee to shine, whether it’s sparkling acidity or a rich, creamy body. But that’s only if they’re
dried slowly, evenly, and consistently.

Mistakes in the drying phase can lead to fermentation, mouldy flavours, and even a prematurely
aged, faded cup profile.

I reached out to Alejandro Cadena, Founder of Caravela Coffee, a vertically integrated green coffee
sourcer, to find out his recommendations for drying washed coffees. Here’s his advice for ensuring
quality in the drying phase.

Spanish Version: ¿Cómo Mejorar la Calidad al Secar Cafés Lavados?

 Coffee dries on raised beds, allowing good airflow. Credit: Caravela Coffee

Why Is The Drying Phase Important?

The drying process is when the moisture content in coffee beans is reduced to just 10–12% from
45–50%. In washed processing, this will occur after the cherry flesh has already been removed; in
dry/natural processing, this will happen while the seeds, or beans, are still in the fruit.

Alejandro explains that this phase is critical for flavour development. It’s at this point that sugars
are preserved and, through the use of good practices, we can avoid something called oxidation.

And oxidation is something that you want to avoid.

According to Cenicafé resources, oxidation in coffee drying affects the lipids, or fat molecules,
that are crucial for determining coffee quality. Oxidising lipids in green coffee beans generates
aldehydes and ketones with unpleasant odours.

Yet it’s not just the coffee flavour and aroma profiles that are affected by drying: it’s also the
coffee longevity. Alejandro says that green coffee beans can last up to a year – but if the drying
phase was mishandled, you might find a coffee tastes faded and aged after just a couple of months.
 A labourer rakes drying coffee beans to ensure an even drying. Credit: Caravela Coffee

Temperature, Moisture, & Quality

Alejandro tells me that evenly drying the beans is key. This will ensure consistency in the cup by
making sure that all of the coffee has the same moisture content.

There are several important elements to achieving an even drying. Alejandro emphasises that
environmental variables shouldn’t be overlooked, especially temperature and airflow.

If the temperature isn’t controlled, he continues, the coffee will dry at different rates. For example,
during the morning the sun might be shining and the temperature high, only for there to be rain in
the afternoon. This can create a risk of mould.

You can identify the risk of mould through something called total water activity; this measures the
amount of water in a food item that isn’t bound to a food molecule. (Note: this is different to
moisture content – it’s about the moisture’s energy rather than its presence.) Water activity is
measured on a scale from 0 to 1, but Alejandro recommends that green coffee should be between
0.5 and 0.6.

He advises that washed or wet processed coffees will have a moisture content of around 45% at
the start of the drying process. At this point in time, he tells me, a maximum temperature of
20°C/68°F maximum is best due to the beans’ fragile cell structure. As the coffee dries, the
temperature can increase up to 35°C/95°F maximum. However, any more than that could damage
the coffee bean’s embryo and break the parchment.

Another point to consider is airflow. If the beans are drying while exposed to the sun, this isn’t an
issue. However, if the beans are covered – which is particularly common in countries like
Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru – a lack of airflow will increase the temperature inside the drier and
prevent moisture from escaping. The hot and humid environment this creates could then lead to
mould. Alejandro recommends using a thermohygrometer, which can measure the temperature and
humidity in the air.
 Monitoring temperature and humidity during the drying phase. Credit: Caravela Coffee

Drying Technologies
When setting up your drying space, the first point to consider is which technology to use: patios,
raised beds, plastic, or mechanical dryers.

Alejandro tells me that it’s important, if producers use mechanical dryers, that they understand the
thermodynamics of the bean. He tells me that many producers dry high quantities of coffee and,
as a result, the drying is uneven.

Patios, he tells me, are not recommended because there isn’t enough airflow and therefore drying
occurs by temperature alone. As a result, drying is seldom very even. He has found that patio-dried
coffees can remain in good condition for up to 6 months but that, after this point, the quality of the
coffee decreases by around 4 points on the cupping table.

Some producers like to dry coffee on plastic, but he tells me that the whole point of drying coffee
is to remove moisture from the bean. This moisture can get trapped in the plastic and remain in
contact with the bean, damaging both its flavour and longevity. He’s tested drying coffees on
plastic and compared it to alternative methods, and tells me that it led to a 5-point decrease in
cupping scores.

Raised beds, however, he does recommend: he tells me that they allow for airflow through the
beans and for the moisture to decrease smoothly and evenly.

SEE ALSO: Coffee Processing: How to Build African Raised Beds

 Coffee dries on raised beds. Credit: Caravela Coffee

Organising Your Coffee Layers & Lots

If using beds, patios, or plastic, Alejandro reminds me that it’s important to consider how you’re
laying out your coffee.

He recommends very thin layers, no more than 3cm tall, and constant movement to ensure airflow.
It would be ideal, he tells me, to have a layer that’s just one coffee bean (or cherry, for naturals)
high. However, this would take up a lot of space that producers may not have available. As a result,
constant movement of the coffee is key.

What’s more, he advises that producers don’t mix varieties. Different varieties tend to have
different densities, he explains, and therefore they dry at different rates.

It’s also important to not mix lots from different days. Not only will they have different levels of
moisture content, but some of that moisture could be transferred from the more recently picked
and washed beans to the drier ones. In turn, that leads to high water activity and oxidation.
 Different coffee beds are used for different lots. Credit: Caravela Coffee

SEE ALSO:How to Dry Natural Coffee on Raised Beds

The Drying Curve: A 3-Step Process

When working with producers, Alejandro always recommends a three-stage “drying curve”. He
tells me that it creates consistency and allow producers better control over the process.

It’s worth noting that, depending on local climates, these steps may have to be tweaked. However,
they are what Alejandro recommends for South and Central America and can serve as a base on
which to develop a drying process in other regions.

Here are his three steps:

1. For the first three to five days, the washed coffee should be 100% shade-dried under zinc
covers. During this time, the moisture content will decrease from 45% to 25%. It is the
riskiest stage, with the coffee more likely to develop fungi, and so Alejandro advises that
it is done as quickly as possible. He also emphasises the importance of a low temperature,
 so that the parchment doesn’t crack – and, of course, those thin layers with plenty of
airflow.
2. For the next ten days, Alejandro recommends a 40–60% shade cover using polythene
netting (polisombra). During this time, the moisture content should decrease from 25% to
13–14%.
3. Although 10–12% moisture content is generally considered acceptable, Alejandro
recommends total sun exposure for a further two days to reach 10%. The higher
temperatures will ensure the heat reaches the centre of the bean, so long the temperature
doesn’t exceed 35°C/95°F.

Alejandro also suggests the use of three-tier driers (like in the photo below). Each tier will have a
different temperature and shade percentage, while also saving space.

The main aim, he emphasises, is for moisture content to decrease while temperature increases over
time. In this way, if layers are kept thin, the temperature is good, and there is airflow, washed
coffee can be slowly and evenly dried over 15 to 20 days.

Coffee dries under polythene netting, a mesh that allows for partial shade. Credit: Caravela
Coffee
Producing specialty coffee means a never-ending focus on quality. From the planting to the
harvesting, and the processing all the way through to the roasting and brewing, there are so many
factors that can affect the final cup profile.

And the drying phase is no exception. An amazing coffee, if poorly dried, will see its cup score
drop. But a well-dried coffee – one that has been dried slowly and evenly under the right conditions
– will shine in the cup.

So remember: choose the best drying technologies available to you. Pay attention to temperature
and humidity. Use thin layers. And dry your coffee slowly and evenly.

Written by Angie Molina Ospina.

https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2017/08/improve-quality-drying-washed-coffees/