What Is LTLH Coffee Drying? Why Preda Chooses Low Temperature, Low Humidity
What Is LTLH Coffee Drying? Why Preda Chooses Low Temperature, Low Humidity
LTLH (Low Temperature, Low Humidity) is a coffee drying method that uses controlled air kept at low temperature and low humidity. Preda Roasting House in Lampang, Thailand, uses LTLH for the coffees we process ourselves. It preserves each coffee's natural flavor, so the cup comes out clean and clear, and the result can be repeated lot after lot.
Why Does Specialty Coffee Need to Be Clean and Clear?
Great specialty coffee is built on two foundations.
Clean
No off-flavors from faulty fermentation or from unwanted microbial activity.
Clear
Every flavor dimension is distinct and easy to pick out, never muddy or blurred.
Both depend mostly on fermentation and drying. If either step goes wrong, the coffee's best qualities are lost.
How Does LTLH Preserve Coffee Flavor?
LTLH dries coffee with air held at a controlled low temperature and low humidity. This brings three benefits.
1. No Flavor Loss From Heat
Delicate aromatic compounds stay intact instead of being driven off by high temperatures.
2. Lower Risk From Microbes
LTLH reduces the chance of microorganisms working in the wrong direction during drying.3. Consistent, Repeatable Quality
Quality no longer depends on the sun or the weather on a given day.
The result: the flavors nature built into the coffee bean are kept fully intact.
How Is LTLH Different From Traditional Sun Drying?
| Traditional Sun Drying | LTLH | |
| Temperature | Rises and falls with the sun, can get too hot | Controlled, low and steady (25-40 C) |
| Humidity | Depends on rain and weather | Controlled and low (40-65% RH) |
| Microbial risk | Higher | Lower |
| Lot-to-lot consistency | Can vary widely | Repeatable |
What Flavor Goal Guides Preda's Coffee Processing?
Processing Is About Potential, Not a Target Flavor
At Preda, processing is not about forcing a coffee toward a particular flavor. It is about understanding the potential inside each coffee and choosing the right way to handle it. That runs from selecting ripe cherries, through fermentation, to drying, so the character that comes from variety, origin, and the coffee's own nature can come through as clearly as possible.
Clear, Not Loud
Beautiful flavor doesn't need to be loud. It should be clear, bright in every dimension, so drinking it brings a quiet sense of joy.
Our Answer: Clean and Clear
So our goal comes down to one thing: Clean and Clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does LTLH stand for?
Low Temperature, Low Humidity: drying coffee with controlled air at low temperature and low humidity.
What does LTLH-processed coffee taste like?
Clean and clear. The flavors are distinct and reflect variety and origin more faithfully, without off-notes from over-fermentation or heat damage.
Where can I buy Preda's LTLH coffee?
Order here >> Preda Craft
Thank you for your love and support. ☕
