Natural Process coffee · The Natural · Roasted in NYC
What Is Natural Process Coffee?
Natural Process describes how coffee is handled after harvest. The whole coffee cherry dries before the dried fruit is removed and the seed is prepared for roasting.
The method can contribute fruit-like aroma, perceived sweetness, and a fuller body. The final cup also reflects the coffee variety, growing conditions, sorting, drying, storage, roasting, grinding, water, and brewing.
The definition
What is Natural Process coffee?
Natural Process coffee—also called dry-process coffee—is dried with the coffee fruit still surrounding the seed. Once drying is complete, the dried outer fruit is removed and the green coffee continues through preparation, export, roasting, and brewing.
“Natural” identifies a post-harvest processing method. It does not mean the coffee is flavored, and it is not another word for organic certification. The National Coffee Association’s processing overview explains the dry and wet methods.
From fruit to green coffee
How natural coffee is processed
- Harvest and sortRipe coffee cherries are collected and sorted. Careful selection and handling help support a consistent lot.
- Dry the whole cherryThe fruit dries around the seed on patios or raised beds. Producers manage depth, airflow, turning, weather, and time.
- Monitor the dryingRegular movement and inspection help the cherries dry more evenly and reduce unwanted fermentation or defects.
- Hull and prepareAfter drying, the brittle fruit layers are removed. The green coffee is then sorted and prepared for roasting.
Why the details matter: “Natural Process” names the broad method, but producer decisions throughout drying and preparation strongly influence quality and flavor.
Processing comparison
Natural Process and washed coffee
The coffee cherry dries largely intact before the dried fruit is removed. The cup may show pronounced fruit character, sweetness, aroma, or body.
The outer fruit is removed before the seed finishes drying. Washed coffees are often associated with clarity, but origin, variety, fermentation, roast, and brewing remain important.
Neither method guarantees a particular flavor or level of quality. Processing is one part of a longer chain from farm to finished cup.
In the cup
Why can Natural Process coffee taste fruit-forward?
Drying the seed inside the whole fruit can influence aroma and flavor development. Tasters may describe a natural coffee as fruit-forward, aromatic, sweet, jam-like, wine-like, or full-bodied. These are sensory descriptions—not added ingredients and not a promise that every natural coffee will taste the same.
The Natural is Oval’s light-to-medium roast expression of the style. Its fruit-forward character comes from the coffee, processing, roast development, and brewing. No fruit flavoring, syrup, or extract is added.
Choose how you brew
The Natural in whole bean and single-serve formats
Whole bean coffee gives you control over grind size and works across manual pour over, automatic drip, AeroPress, French press, and other brewers. Start with a consistent recipe, taste the result, and adjust one variable at a time.
Oval’s Pour Over Single Serves contain real ground coffee in individual drip filters. They rest over a mug and brew with hot water—without a coffee machine, grinder, pod, capsule, or instant coffee.
One 8.8 oz whole-bean bag. Grind fresh for your brewer. Explore The Natural whole bean.
Brew with hot water and a mug. Explore the 8-count caddy.
One 8.8 oz whole-bean bag plus eight matching single serves. Explore the two-format set.
For offices and hospitality. Explore the bulk case.
How to compare natural and washed coffee at home
Choose coffees with documented processing methods and use the same brewer, coffee dose, water amount and water source. Taste both as they cool and note aroma, perceived sweetness, acidity, body and finish. Changing several brewing variables at once makes the comparison harder to interpret.
Different coffees also have different origins, varieties and roast development, so a side-by-side tasting does not isolate processing as the only cause of flavor. Record what you notice in your own cups rather than expecting every natural coffee to taste of the same fruit.
For The Natural whole bean coffee, start with your brewer’s directions and adjust one variable at a time. For The Natural single-serve drip bags, use the package directions and Oval’s brewing demonstration. These are comparison tips, not a published test of a specific coffee lot.
Share The Natural as a gift or a guest experience
Coffee gifts
The Natural Discovery Set pairs one 8.8 oz whole-bean bag with eight matching pour-over single serves. Choose whole beans for someone with a grinder and brewer, or single serves when they have hot water and a suitable mug. Compare coffee gifts and variety packs.
Hotels and hospitality
The Natural 100-count case contains one profile in individually sealed pour-over packets. Provide hot water, suitable cups and clear brewing instructions for guest rooms, lounges, workplaces or events. Explore hospitality coffee and serving plans.
For custom-labeled bags in client gifts, employee appreciation programs or curated baskets, explore corporate coffee gifts and share your quantity, branding and delivery date.
Common questions
Natural Process coffee questions
Is Natural Process coffee flavored?
No. Natural Process describes how the coffee fruit dries after harvest. The Natural has no added fruit flavoring, syrup or extract; tasting notes describe its aroma and flavor.
Does natural mean organic?
No. Natural processing and organic certification describe different things. Look for an explicit certification statement on the product rather than inferring one from its processing method.
Is natural processing a roast level?
No. Processing happens before roasting. A natural coffee can be roasted to different levels. Oval’s The Natural is a light-to-medium roast.
Is Natural Process coffee better than washed coffee?
Neither method guarantees better coffee. Quality depends on the coffee and how it is handled, dried, stored, roasted and brewed. Choose by the cup you enjoy and compare coffees using a consistent recipe.
How should I brew The Natural?
For whole beans, start with your brewer’s recommended grind, coffee dose and water amount, then adjust one variable at a time. For single serves, follow the packet directions and watch the brewing tutorial. Processing alone does not require a special brewer.
Does the bulk case contain several coffee profiles?
No. The 100-count case of The Natural contains 100 single serves of this one profile. Choose separate cases if you want to offer a selection.
Is natural processing the same as fermentation?
Fermentation occurs during coffee processing, but “Natural Process” describes the broader method of drying the coffee with the fruit intact. Fermentation conditions and producer choices vary from lot to lot.
From our NYC roastery
Explore the people behind The Natural
Oval Coffee Roasters was co-founded by Christopher Alspach and Andrew Itzkowitz. Christopher’s coffee experience began in 2007, with roasting experience since 2012. Meet the founders and explore our roasting approach, or watch The Natural coffee film before choosing your format.
