What is the process called when the red cherry is removed to expose the green bean?

The process of removing the red cherry to expose the green bean is known as processing. Processing is a critical step in the coffee production timeline, which occurs after harvesting. During this stage, the outer fruit of the coffee cherry is removed, allowing access to the green coffee bean.

This is important because the way in which coffee beans are processed can significantly affect the flavor profile, quality, and characteristics of the final product. Various methods, such as dry processing and wet processing, determine how much fruit pulp is left on the beans or how the beans are fermented, ultimately impacting the aroma and taste of the brewed coffee.

While harvesting refers to the gathering of ripe cherries from coffee plants, and fermentation is a stage that may occur in some processing methods, these terms address different steps in the coffee production process. Sorting is another significant step that follows processing, where the beans are graded based on size, weight, and quality, but it does not involve the removal of the cherry itself. Thus, processing is indeed the correct term for the removal of the red cherry to reveal the green bean.