Wet-hulled, called giling basah in Indonesian, means the papery parchment around the bean is removed while the bean is still wet, and only then is the bare bean dried. Most other coffees keep the parchment on until they are dry. The method is commonly linked to a heavy body and earthy cups, and it is how our No. 3 Position from Aceh is processed.
How is wet-hulled different from washed and natural?
The difference is when the protective layers come off. Each process dries the coffee at a different stage.
| Process | What is removed early | What is dried | Example from our ten |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully washed | Fruit skin and pulp, then rinsed | Bean in parchment | No. 1 Common Sense |
| Natural | Nothing, the whole cherry dries | Whole fruit | No. 2 Good Sense |
| Wet-hulled | Parchment, while the bean is still wet | Bare bean | No. 3 Position |
Because the bean is hulled wet and then dried without protection, it ends up with a different look and character than a washed bean. We state only what the label says: process Wet-hulled (giling basah).
Why does wet-hulled coffee taste earthy and heavy?
The honest answer is that the method is widely associated with those traits, and we cannot trace each flavor to a single step. What we can back is the label of our bag: dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy. If you want to know what body feels like in the cup, see what body means in coffee.
Who should buy a wet-hulled coffee?
If you drink coffee with milk, make espresso, or use a moka pot, this is the profile we suggest. We describe No. 3 Position as holding its shape under milk and under ice. If you like a bright, floral cup, a washed Kenya or a natural Ethiopia is a better fit, and all ten coffees are listed with their label facts.
Our pick
No. 3 Position
Aceh, Takengon, Indonesia · 1,100 to 1,600 m · Wet-hulled (giling basah) · Tim Tim, Typica, Ateng, Onan Ganjang, Jember
The label notes are dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy, and we suggest it for espresso, moka and anything with milk.
How do I brew it?
For espresso, we use 1:2 in 28 seconds. For a moka pot, start with how much coffee in a moka pot, and for espresso doses see how many grams of coffee for a shot of espresso. The roaster does not state a roast level for this coffee, so we do not describe one.
How do I read the process line on a bag?
The process line tells you what happened between picking the cherry and shipping the green bean. Three common patterns show up across our ten coffees: washed (the fruit is removed and the bean is rinsed before drying), natural (the cherry dries whole) and the variations in between, such as pulped natural and eco-pulped. Wet-hulled is a separate pattern that is tied to Indonesian practice. When a bag only says wet-hulled and does not give a roast level, as ours does for Position, the roaster has simply not declared one, and we do not fill the gap.
What can I expect in the first cup?
Read the label notes first: dark chocolate, dried fruit, earthy. Those are the words the roaster uses, so start there. Then taste it next to a washed coffee, such as No. 1 Common Sense, brewed the same way at 60 g per litre. The difference in weight and brightness is easier to notice side by side than it is to describe. If you add milk, add a little at first and see whether the dark chocolate note stays in front.
What do we not know?
We do not know the moisture level at which a given lot was hulled, how long it dried, or the roast level, because the roaster does not state them. We also have no cupping scores to share. We give you the process name, the label notes, and the two brewing methods we use, and we stop there.
Frequently asked questions
Is wet-hulled the same as washed?
No. Washed coffee is fully fermented and rinsed, then dried in parchment. Wet-hulled coffee has the parchment removed while the bean is still wet, then is dried as a bare bean.
Why does wet-hulled coffee taste earthy?
The method is commonly linked to a heavier body and earthy notes. Our Aceh bag lists dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy on the label.
Is giling basah only used in Indonesia?
The term is Indonesian, and the method is most associated with Sumatra and other Indonesian origins. We can speak only for our own bag, which comes from Aceh.
If you want to taste the process, one 12 oz bag is the easiest way to find out.
Questions people ask
Is wet-hulled the same as washed?
No. Washed coffee is fully fermented and rinsed, then dried in parchment. Wet-hulled coffee has the parchment removed while the bean is still wet, then is dried as a bare bean.
Why does wet-hulled coffee taste earthy?
The method is commonly linked to a heavier body and earthy notes. Our Aceh bag lists dark chocolate, dried fruit and earthy on the label.
Is giling basah only used in Indonesia?
The term is Indonesian, and the method is most associated with Sumatra and other Indonesian origins. We can speak only for our own bag, which comes from Aceh.
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