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The World's Commercial Products 



OPEN-AIR DRYING OF COFFEE IN NICARAGUA 



— which is made to revolve facing a curved metal plate. Between the two there is not room 

 enough to allow the cherries to pass. The cherries are reduced to a pulp by the rasping action 

 of the revolving cylinder. The mixture of seeds and pulp is carried away into a vat full of 

 water, where it is mechanically stirred to cause the seeds to separate from the pulp. The 

 heavy seeds settle to the bottom whilst the lighter pulp is carried away by an overflow of water. 

 The seeds or beans are drawn off and carried in a stream of water to a kind of sieve, and the 

 water is drained away. 



Fermentation. The beans are not yet clean, but the " parchment " which is still uninjured 

 is covered with a slimy layer which cannot be got rid of in the pulping machine. To remove it 

 the beans are placed in a cistern or vat. Fermentation is set up and allowed to continue 

 from twelve to forty-eight hours or more. When the fermentation has proceeded for a 

 sufficient length of time the beans are removed to another vat and washed. 



Washing. This is sometimes effected by running in enough water to cover the beans and 

 trampling on them with bare feet when the adherent tissue becomes loosened. Successive 

 rinsings with water, stirring with rakes or by special machinery result finally in leaving the 

 parchment coverings quite clean. 



During the washing process those beans which are not developed sufficiently and are light 

 float on the surface and are collected separately to be sold as " tailings " of inferior quality. 

 When the washing is completed the beans are strained again and removed to the drying place. 



Drying. This operation is carried out in much the same manner as the drying of cacao, 

 the actual method adopted depending largely on climatic considerations. With an assurance 

 of continuous sunshine and a dry atmosphere, it is sufficient to spread the beans out on a 

 barbecue or drying floor usually made of stone, with a raised edge. By having sliding roofs 

 to the barbecues, or by the provision of portable drying floors on rails, protection against rain 



