Raised drying bed
also: African bed, raised bed, drying table
A mesh table raised off the ground that dries cherries or parchment with even airflow from all sides.
A raised drying bed is a table with a mesh or screen surface, lifted off the ground on legs, used to dry coffee after processing. Sometimes called an African bed because the style is associated with East African producers, it can hold whole cherries for natural process or wet parchment for washed coffee.
Why it matters: drying coffee evenly is one of the trickiest parts of getting quality right. On the ground or on concrete patios, the bottom layer stays damp and warm, which invites mold, uneven drying, and ground-contact off-flavors. A raised bed lets air move under and through the coffee, so beans dry more uniformly. Workers rake and turn the layer regularly and cover it during peak sun or rain.
In the cup, careful bed drying shows up as a clean, consistent flavor without the musty or fermented taints that come from rushed or uneven drying. The target is a stable moisture content of around 10 to 12 percent before storage.