February 14, 2022

Is Honey Process Coffee Vegan?

The term honey process can be misleading at first glance - especially for vegan coffee drinkers. It’s a question that comes up more often than you might expect: does honey processed coffee actually contain honey?

The short answer is no. Honey process coffee is completely vegan.

The confusion usually comes from the name itself. Many people assume honey is used during processing, or that the coffee will taste distinctly like honey. In reality, neither is true.

Why Is It Called “Honey Process”?

The honey process gets its name from the sticky texture of the coffee bean before it’s dried. Once coffee cherries are harvested, the beans are pulped - removing the outer skin but leaving behind a layer called mucilage.

As this mucilage dries, it reabsorbs moisture from the air and becomes sticky and golden in colour, closely resembling honey in look and feel. No honey is added at any stage of the process - it’s simply a visual and textural comparison.

DRWakefield

A Slower Process, a Smaller Footprint

The honey process is also one of the most environmentally friendly methods of coffee processing.

Unlike washed or natural processes, which use significant amounts of water, the honey process uses none. After depulping, the beans are laid out to dry - often on large concrete patios or raised beds - for up to two weeks.

During this time, the beans are turned regularly (sometimes every hour) to ensure even drying and to carefully control moisture levels, which typically settle around 12%.

Our First Honey Process Coffee

Our first Single Origin of 2026 is the Hermosa, Costa Rica - our first ever honey process coffee - and it’s now available to buy. You can read more about this honey process coffee here.