What is the outermost layer of a coffee cherry called?

The outermost layer of a coffee cherry is referred to as the outer skin. This layer plays a crucial role in protecting the coffee cherry and is composed of a thin, protective covering. The outer skin (or exocarp) acts as a barrier to pests and diseases, ensuring that the inner parts of the cherry, which contain the beans, remain safe during the growth and maturation process.

The pulp, while a significant part of the coffee cherry, is actually the fleshy layer found beneath the outer skin and is not the outermost layer.

Mucilage is a gelatinous substance that surrounds the parchment layer and the beans once the outer skin and pulp have been removed but is located further inside the cherry.

Parchment refers to the dry covering that protects the coffee beans after the pulp and mucilage have been removed, but it is definitely not an outer layer of the cherry itself. Understanding these layers is essential for comprehending the coffee processing stages and the overall structure of the coffee cherry.