Raised beds describes a structure used to dry coffee beans when the cherries are still intact during the stages of processing that eventually end with end-consumers.

When coffee cherries are initially picked from the plant, the goal is to dry the coffee beans (seeds) after removing the cherry.

Depending on producer, a specified level of moisture must be removed from the coffee before they are ready to be moved to wholesalers or be exported.

A common standard that producers go with is to retain 11% to 12% moisture in the beans. This is from an initial moisture level of approximately 60% to 70% at the start of the production process.

There are a lot of diverse methods used for cherry removal and bean drying.

When the beans are placed on raised beds for drying, air will be able to circulate around and below the coffee creating more evenness in the final product.

They are usually built with wooden frames acting as holders to suspend wire mesh above the ground to about waist height. Coffee beans are then spread out on the mesh for natural drying.

Sad to say, even though this is the best method of fully drying coffee, mass production machinery has made raised beds one of the least used drying methods.

This method is now usually only practiced in less developed countries.

Raised bed are also used in the solar dryer method of drying.

How well and evenly the beans are dried can also significantly affect the fermentation process.

It is generally accepted that raised beds play an important part in improving cup quality.