Processing method
Natural (dry) process
In the natural process the whole cherry is dried with the bean inside. It gives a fruity, sweet, heavy cup.
- Taste Sweet, fruity and heavy, with notes of berries, tropical fruit and wine.
Written by the KAIVO team, Mumbai. Last updated 4 November 2026. Cite as: KAIVO, "Natural (dry) process", kaivo.in/pages/process-natural
In the natural process the whole ripe cherries are spread out and dried in the sun, with the bean still inside the fruit, for two to four weeks. The sugars and flavours of the fruit soak into the bean as it dries. The cup is sweet and fruity, with a heavy body and notes of berries, tropical fruit and wine. It is the oldest method and is very common in Ethiopia and Brazil. In India, natural coffee is often called cherry.
Questions
Why does natural coffee taste like fruit?
The bean dries inside the fruit, so the fruit sugars and flavours pass into it.