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Sustainability

Moisture levels are high after picking and Cafeology
Pre-drying
pulping. Like many other crops, coffee must be
dried before storage and export. Drying coffee on
Roberto’s farm is done over two stages: pre- Depending on the processing
drying using traditional methods before going to method, and the weather
completion in a mechanical dryer. Pre-drying is conditions, coffee will take
carried out either in the greenhouse, on raised 3-8 days to complete the pre-
beds, or on tarps laid across the floor outside. drying phase. Rainy days
Either way, pre-drying involves spreading the lengthen drying times
coffee out over the floor (or the raised bed) and because the coffee must be
allowing it to dry in the heat of the sun. covered (quickly) and
hopefully very little or no
This is very labour-intensive. The coffee must be water gets added back in.
turned every 1-2 hours (by 1-3 workers rotating Fortunately, Costa Rica
around the batches all day) to ensure even drying typically has a very warm and
because the top layer will dry much faster than sunny harvest season which
the coffee underneath. Additionally, turning is ideal for drying coffee.
protects against rot by mixing the wetter
underneath layer to the top so it will not sit wet
and dark for too long. The coffee is turned using Each of the three pre-drying

paddles and leaves behind furrows like plowing methods has its advantages
fields. Periodically, the batch will get pushed into and disadvantages. Raised
piles and left to sit for a while before being beds allow air to circulate
spread back out. This is because areas of the underneath the coffee and
batch might be drying faster than others, so the for water to drain away –
piling helps to concentrate and equilibrate the generally leading to a more
moisture and sugars across all the beans - even drying and consistent
yielding a more consistent batch.
product. But raised beds can
be expensive and require
maintenance, whereas using
plastic tarps laid on the floor
is much cheaper. Tarps also
allow the coffee to spread out
over a larger surface (to dry
quicker) whereas raised beds
are limited by the size of the

bed (possibly leading to thick
layers). However, tarps lack
the airflow and drainage of a
raised bed. Moreover, raised JULY/AUGUST. 2024 | ISSUE 37
beds and tarps need to be
covered if it starts to rain,
Roberto and grandson Javier turning coffee whereas the greenhouse is

in the greenhouse always covered.

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