What is pulp natural coffee processing?

Pulp natural - also known as honey process in Central America - is a processing method where the cherry skin is mechanically removed but the mucilage layer is left on the parchment during drying. Unlike washed processing, no fermentation or washing step removes the mucilage; unlike natural processing, the cherry skin has been stripped before drying begins.

The term "pulp natural" is most commonly used in Brazil, where the method was developed and remains widely practiced. In Costa Rica and Central America, the same basic approach is called honey process, with sub-categories - white, yellow, red, black honey - indicating how much mucilage remains.

The resulting cup sits between washed and natural: more sweetness and body than washed, with some fruit influence from the drying mucilage, but more controlled and less intense than a full natural. Pulp naturals tend to be smooth, sweet, and approachable - often a good entry point for customers curious about processing variation.