What is Honey Process?
What Is the Honey Process? A Smooth Journey from Bean to Cup
If you’ve ever sipped a cup of coffee that was unexpectedly smooth, fruity, and just a little bit wild, you may have met the honey process. No, there’s no actual honey involved. But the process? It’s as rich and fascinating as the flavor in your cup.
What Exactly Is the Honey Process?
The honey process is a method used during the post-harvest stage of coffee production. After the coffee cherries are picked, their skin is removed—but instead of washing off the sticky layer of fruit (called mucilage), farmers let it stay on the bean as it dries in the sun.
This sticky layer looks and feels a bit like honey, hence the name.
A Natural Balance Between Washed and Natural
To understand what makes the honey process special, think of it as a balance between two other methods:
- Washed Coffee: The mucilage is fully removed before drying. This brings out bright acidity and clean flavors.
- Natural Coffee: The cherry dries whole, adding bold, fruity, and fermented notes.
Honey Process? It’s the best of both worlds: clean like a washed coffee, with some of the body and sweetness of a natural.
Flavors You Can Expect
Every honey-processed coffee is different, depending on the origin, altitude, and roast—but typically, you’ll find:
- Notes of red fruit, peach, or plum
- A silky body
- Gentle acidity
- Subtle hints of caramel or brown sugar
This process enhances sweetness without overpowering the coffee’s original character, making it perfect for drinkers who want complexity without bitterness.
The Work Behind the Sweetness
Honey processing isn’t easy. In fact, it requires a careful balance of:
- Timing: Drying must be slow and even to prevent fermentation.
- Attention: Beans are constantly turned to avoid mold and uneven flavors.
- Climate Control: Too much humidity can ruin a batch.
But when done right, it results in a coffee that’s as expressive as the land and people who crafted it.
Why We Love the Honey Process at Drink Nativa
Our honey process coffee comes from Risaralda, Colombia, where our farmers use traditional, sustainable methods to highlight the natural richness of their harvest.
We love it because it tells a story—of careful harvests, sun-drenched drying patios, and skilled hands that know just when to move the beans. It's a sensory expression of nature, culture, and time.
☕ Ready to Taste It?
Honey process coffee isn’t just a drink. It’s an experience. Whether you’re a black-coffee purist or an adventurous sipper, there’s something about the subtle sweetness and soft fruit notes that makes it unforgettable.
Let every sip remind you of the beautiful journey from the Colombian soil to your cup.
