Spreads coffee on a flat concrete or brick patio in the sun, raked by hand through the day to dry evenly.
Patio drying spreads coffee on large flat surfaces, typically concrete or brick, to dry in the sun. It is mostly seen in Latin America and relies on workers turning the coffee with rakes or paddles through the day. One reference notes that, depending on weather, up to four weeks may pass before the fruit reaches a maximum moisture of 12.5 per cent. The coffee is exposed to dirt and to people and animals.
How it worksCoffee is spread on large flat surfaces, typically concrete or brick, and dried in the sun. Workers turn it by hand or with rakes or paddles through the day so it dries evenly.
Step by step
- 01
Spread the coffee on the patio.
- 02
Turn it with rakes or paddles throughout the day.
- 03
Continue until it reaches the target moisture, which can take up to about four weeks depending on weather.
Timing · Up to about four weeks depending on weather
Our notes on Patio Sun-Drying are still being checked against their sources, so for now this page shows only the facts we can stand behind.
What can go wrong
- Coffee is exposed to dirt and can be walked on by people and animals.
- It must be turned frequently through the day.
Sources · 3 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-09-30.
- Coffee processing · Wikimedia Foundation
- Raw Materials: The Ins and Outs of Drying Coffee · Merit Coffee
- Coffee Drying Methods Explained: A Guide to Traditional and Mechanical Driers · DR Wakefield