Coffee 



189 



NICARAGUA. DRYING COFFEE ON WOODEN TRAYS 



( 1 ) the older or dry method, still practised in Arabia and some other countries, and (2) the 

 modern or wet method, often spoken of as the West Indian process. 



The Dry Method of Preparation 



The beans are spread out on stone drying grounds, Commonly known as barbecues, in a 

 layer a few inches deep. During the first day or two they are frequently stirred so that all 

 are exposed to the sun, and afterwards means are usually adopted so that they can easily 

 be removed under cover at night or at any other time when there is any chance of their being" 

 made damp again. The pulpy covering ferments and gradually dries, the whole processes 

 taking two or three weeks. When thoroughly dry the beans can be stored any length of time 

 until wanted, when all that has to be done is to remove the dried pulp in a primitive manner 

 by pounding in a mortar similar to those used for husking rice (see illustration on p. 193), 

 or, as is now more usual, in a hulling machine. In either case the dried covering is broken 

 up and the beans set free. 



The dry method, although it is simpler and requires less expensive machinery, is gradually 

 falling into disuse, and even in Brazil, where it is still prevalent, it is losing ground, because 

 the modern wet method is quicker and is independent of the continuance of settled fine weather 

 over a considerable period. 



The Wet Method of Preparation 



In the " wet " method of preparation the cherries as brought in from the field are placed 

 in a large tank full of water. The well-developed cherries are heavy and sink to the bottom, 

 whence they are drawn off through pipes, whilst the immature and bad fruits (which are light) 

 float on the surface, and are treated separately. The ripe cherries are carried directly to 

 machines called pulpers. 



Pulping. Pulpers are of various types, but one of the oldest, and yet most effective, con- 

 sists essentially of a rough cylinder — more or less like a very large cylindrical nutmeg grater 



