What are Drying Beds?
Drying beds consist of a raised structure with a mesh or slatted surface that allows air to circulate around the coffee beans as they dry. The drying process is a crucial step in the production of high-quality coffee, as it affects the coffee's flavour and shelf life.
Drying beds are commonly used in traditional wet processing, where coffee is washed and fermented to remove the fruit and mucilage layers from the beans. After the fermentation process, the coffee is moved to the drying beds to remove any remaining moisture from the beans. During this process, the coffee beans need to be turned regularly to ensure even drying and to prevent mould or fermentation from occurring.
Drying beds can also be used in other processing methods, such as natural processing, where coffee is dried with the fruit still intact. In this method, the coffee cherries are laid out on drying beds and turned regularly until the fruit has dried and can be removed.
The use of drying beds allows for consistent and controlled drying of the coffee beans, which helps to maintain the quality and flavour of the coffee. Additionally, drying beds are a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for coffee processing, as they do not require large amounts of energy or water.