African beds are raised wooden structures that provide the coffee cherries or washed beans with a good air supply so that they do not mold.
For example, in the case of "Natural
Washed coffees run the risk of the beans drying out too much. The moisture content of the beans must therefore be constantly measured. The beds are also partially covered with tarpaulins or nets to create shade and allow the drying process to proceed more evenly. Beans that are too dry could break during subsequent threshing and would then be considered defective and thus fetch less money (grades of coffee beans) - in the worst case, they cannot be used.
