Should I Wash My Coffee Beans?
Should I wash my coffee beans?
When you're just getting into the world of specialty coffee and learning everything you can about it, there are going to be times when something sounds like it makes sense but then you start to wonder if maybe it doesn't.
For instance, does one really need to wash their beans before brewing?
It's a question all so called coffee folk have asked themselves at some point or another when they first see washed coffee on a bag.
Well, there’s more to it than that—and luckily for us, there is also an answer.
No, you shouldn’t wash your beans before brewing them; here’s why.
A Brief Introduction to Coffee Washing
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of why you shouldn’t wash your coffee beans, let’s first take a second to talk about what coffee washing is.
Coffee washing is the process of rinsing farmed coffee beans (or seeds) with water so as to remove some of the pulp that may still be clinging to them post-harvest and sometimes after you take them home.
This is something that’s done in the majority of coffee-growing countries, including the Brazil and Colombia.
The idea behind washing the beans is simple: to get rid of any impurities that may be on the surface of the beans, and to get rid of any lingering fermentation.
With regards to green beans, as beans are hygroscopic, they will absorb more water before roasting if they are washed.
Therefore, before roasting, they must be dried again. In addition, washing leads to unevenly wet coffee seeds that will char before they caramelize.
As a result, there will be burnt beans on the outside and raw beans on the inside, resulting in a burnt grassy flavor.
Furthermore, green beans are washed prior to packaging and are already packed at 10 – 12 percent moisture.
Thus, additional washing is unnecessary.
How is Coffee Brewing Different When Beans Are Roasted?
As we mentioned above, coffee beans are covered in pulp before they’ve been dried or processed.
When you’re brewing coffee, you want all of the flavours that the coffee bean has to offer, and you don’t want anything to get in the way of that.
The difference in the flavour of coffee between washed and natural is significant. Washed produce a variety of flavours, whereas un-washed (or natural) can have boozy fermented tastes.
What You’re Trying to Get Rid of When You Wash Beans
When we say that coffee beans need to be washed before brewing, we mean that they need to be cleaned of impurities.
While it may seem like these impurities are things like coffee cherries or other plant matter, that isn’t actually the case.
The impurities that you’re trying to get rid of when you wash beans are things like bugs, mildew, and other kinds of debris that may have gotten caught in the coffee plants while they were growing.
When coffee beans are growing, they’re susceptible to all kinds of insects and pests.
Even if farmers try to protect the fields, some bugs will inevitably make their way into the crop.
So, you’re trying to get rid of anything that is unwanted on the surface of the beans.
The Dangers of Unwashed Beans
There are no huge dangers when you consume un-washed beans.
The one difference that I have found when dealing with natural coffee (un-washed) is that there are more rocks in the greens.
It is still extremely unlikely that you will find any sort of rock in your coffee bag, and the only thing that is in danger is your electric coffee grinder.
Is Coffee Washing Worth It?
There’s a reason why certain origins have been washing coffee beans for hundreds of years; it really does make a difference.
That being said, though, not every origin is able to wash their beans because of abundance or lack thereof of water.
So, should you wash your coffee beans?
No, you shouldn’t wash your coffee beans.
Unless you are a coffee farmer and it’s your first day on the job.
Coffee beans are either washed or unwashed but as a consumer all you have to do is brew your delicious coffee and let the coffee farmers worry about the washing.
Should you wash your coffee beans before you roast them?
No not really.
Unless you are experimenting with whiskey barrels like some independent coffee roasters then you should just roast those greens straight from the sack.
What about washed pre-ground coffee?
If you’re using pre-ground coffee, then you’ll certainly not want to go near this with water until you are ready to brew.
If you’re grinding your own beans, then you don’t have to wash them either, make sure you are storing you coffee beans in a container.
Will soap and water ruin your equipment?
The answer to this question depends on the kind of equipment you use, how often you clean it, and how much water you use.
Most equipment will stand up to a little water and a little soap, but you don’t want to use something that will leave a residue behind.
If you don’t clean your espresso machine regularly, then you may want to take it out of service while it’s being cleaned.
When should you grind and brew fresh beans?
A great deal of the decision about whether or not you should buy washed beans will be influenced by your specific needs and tastes.
Always grind your coffee right before you are about to brew.
If you plan to store the beans for a longer period of time, then you will want to wait to grind them until you want to use them.
The main point is to think about how you plan to use your coffee beans.
Summing up
Coffee has been around for hundreds of years and has grown in popularity ever since, but even now, there are still misconceptions about what makes a great cup.
One of the most common misconceptions is that you have to clean your beans before brewing them.
