Drying is an important part of coffee processing. If it isn’t performed properly, coffee beans can start to ferment or develop mold, which make for bad flavor notes and reduced quality.

So how do you make sure your beans are drying properly? Read on to find out more about the importance of taking regular samples to measure moisture content.

Why Drying Matters

In general, an unprocessed, ripe coffee bean contains around 45–55% moisture after picking.

The International Coffee Organization states that dried, processed green coffee beans should have a moisture content of 8–12.5% with the exception of “speciality coffees that traditionally have a high moisture content, e.g. Indian Monsooned coffees.”