What is Honey Processed Coffee? White, Yellow, Red, & Black Honey explained

If you’ve ever seen “honey process” printed on a coffee bag and thought, wait… is there actual honey in my coffee?, the answer is no — but the story is still sweet.

Honey process coffee is one of our favorite ways coffee is prepared before it ever gets to Bellwood. It’s a little bit washed, a little bit natural, and totally its own thing. And just like any good mixtape, there are different tracks to suit your taste: white, yellow, red, and black honey.

Let’s break it down.

So, what is honey process coffee?

When coffee cherries are picked, the skin is removed (just like in the washed process), but instead of cleaning all the fruit off, the farmer leaves a sticky layer of sweet fruit — called mucilage, or “honey” — clinging to the bean.

Then the coffee is dried with some of that honey still on it, which changes how it tastes in the cup. The more honey left, the sweeter and fruitier the coffee can get.

White Honey

Think of white honey as the light, easy‑going version. Most of the fruit is cleaned off before drying, so it leans closer to washed coffee in flavor.

• Tastes like: Bright, crisp, with just a whisper of sweetness.

• Perfect for: People who like their coffee clean and refreshing, but still want a little personality.

Yellow Honey

Yellow honey leaves a bit more fruit on the bean, and the coffee dries a little slower in the sun.

• Tastes like: Balanced sweetness with gentle fruit notes, medium body.

• Perfect for: Those who want something right down the middle — not too bright, not too sweet.

Red Honey

Now we’re getting into juicy territory. Red honey has even more of that sticky fruit left on during drying, and the flavors really start to shine.

• Tastes like: Rich sweetness, jammy fruit, syrupy texture.

• Perfect for: Coffee drinkers who love full‑bodied, fruit‑forward cups.

Black Honey

Black honey is the big, bold sibling. The farmer leaves the maximum amount of fruit on the bean, and it dries slowly under shade. This takes time and attention, but the payoff is huge.

• Tastes like: Deep, jam‑like sweetness, medium acidity, big body.

• Perfect for: People who like their coffee to taste like dessert without the sugar.

Why it’s worth exploring

The honey process is like a spectrum — you can go from bright and clean to bold and fruity just by changing how much fruit is left on the bean. It’s one of the many reasons we love coffee: even before roasting, there are so many ways to shape flavor.

Next time you spot a honey process coffee, ask which type it is. And if you ever see it on our shelves at Bellwood, you’ll know exactly what kind of flavor journey you’re in for.