Decaf
Natural Sidama American Decaf
Oromia, Sama
Crisp Apple | Toasted Almond
UVVW · In Stock
Quality Metric
Moisture Content
The percentage of water by weight in green coffee. Target 10-12% for specialty. The basic spec everyone knows--but understanding why it matters makes you a better buyer.
Definition
What moisture content measures
Moisture content is simply the percentage of water in green coffee by weight. Fresh cherry starts around 60% moisture. After processing and drying, specialty coffee should reach 10-12%.
This spec tells you how well coffee was dried. Too high means storage problems and mold risk. Too low means over-drying, which can mute flavors and cause roast defects.
Key numbers
Ideal range
10 - 12%
ICO maximum
12.5%
Risk zone (high)
>13%
Risk zone (low)
<9%
Related spec
Water Activity
Why Roasters Care
What moisture content tells you
Roast behavior
Higher moisture means more energy needed to drive off water. Affects charge temperature, time to first crack, and development time.
Storage stability
Coffee above 12% moisture degrades faster and risks mold. Below 10% may already show fading cup character.
Processing indicator
Moisture tells you about drying quality. Rushed drying often means high moisture. Over-drying can happen with mechanical dryers.
Related Concepts
Moisture vs. water activity
Moisture Content
Total water present (% by weight). Tells you how much water is in the bean.
Example: 11% moisture = 11g water per 100g coffee
Water Activity
How available that water is (0.00-1.00 scale). Tells you what that water will do.
Example: 0.55 aW = water is bound, stable for storage
Both specs matter. Two coffees at 11% moisture can have different water activity--and behave differently in storage and roasting. Ask for both.
Our Approach
How we use moisture data
Accept 10-12%
We target the sweet spot. Below 10% we investigate for over-drying. Above 12% needs explanation.
Pair with water activity
Moisture alone isn't enough. We measure both specs to understand true storage stability.
Include on all spec sheets
Every lot comes with moisture data. This is basic information every roaster should have.
Climate-controlled storage
Our warehouse maintains conditions that prevent moisture migration. What you sample is what you get.
Current Inventory
Coffees with moisture data
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SWD Natural Sidama
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Organic Washed Sidama
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Fully washed · In Stock
Deep Dive
Green Coffee Moisture Content Explained
Why moisture percentage matters for roast development, shelf life, and weight loss—and the ideal range for specialty-grade green beans.
Related Terms
More Quality Metrics
Water Activity (aW)
Measure of free moisture. Below 0.60 is stable; above 0.65 risks mold.
Density
Bean mass per volume. Affects heat transfer and roast development.
Q Score
Cupping score from a certified Q-grader. 80+ is specialty grade.
Q Grader
Licensed coffee professional certified by CQI to evaluate specialty coffee.
Defects
Physical or sensory flaws that reduce coffee quality and grade.
Screen Size
Bean size measured by round-hole screens. Larger = more uniform roasts.
Want complete spec sheets?
We provide moisture, water activity, density, and cupping scores on every lot.