Shadowing Practice: The Right Roast Episode 48: Washed Vs Natural - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Greetings Earthlings and welcome to another episode of The Right Roast.
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Today, quite simply, we'll be tasting two coffees and talking about the difference between the processes.
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One will be washed and one will be a natural.
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Here we are.
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So we have one by Nomad, a Kenyan, and it's washed coffee,
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and one by Kuchum, and it's a natural.
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So the process of a coffee means it's the point at
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which the cherries pick from the trees and then the beans inside has to be removed.
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Now, how the bean is extracted from the fruit will affect the flavor of your coffee.
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So, if it's a washed coffee, that means the cherries are going to go through a thorough washing process at the origin of where the coffees are grown.
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So basically they'll go through some kind of milling machine, they're either shaking the coffees around,
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they're being washed a lot and eventually the fruit part is completely removed and you have clean,
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wet coffee bean that will then be laid out and dried.
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Or, at the other end of the scale is the natural process, which is also called a dry process,
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because basically, the fruits are spread out, left in the sun, to dry.
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And the fruit will just eventually rot away, and all that rotting process will really affect the character of the coffee,
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because rotting flavours penetrate the beans, even if you clean them up later, it's been affected.
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I've chosen the empanga natural because for me it has a much more subtle background flavor in the natural process than most.
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Because the natural process can create very overt characteristics in the
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cup particularly with specialty coffee being sensitive in the light roasting process to different changes.
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I can smell straight away there's a kind of sweet funkiness
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that you only get with naturals and it's It's a little hard to describe
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because some people might call it a melon sweetness or a chocolatey sweetness.
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But it's immediately there in the taste.
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It's something a little bit.. it's punchy but not acidic.
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So think of it as something quite full in flavour.
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But it adds this wonderful character to the whole coffee.
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It gives it a much more weird sweetness.
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Now the washed coffee.
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Instantly I can see that there is so much more sharpness and acidity.
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It's very low acidity with natural coffees.
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It has a more tart feel as well.
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Those wonderful berries and crisp flavours that really jump out at you with a washed coffee.
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You can really really tell that these beans have been strongly affected by the process in which they were cleaned.
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And there are processes in between.
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Look out for different processes from different coffees in different countries.
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and really work out which ones you like best and which ones really show prominence with those characteristics.
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So basically that's it.
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Those are the two different processes.
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And please go out and read more about it.
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There's a lot written about all this stuff.
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And enjoy your coffee.

Context & Background

In this episode of "The Right Roast," the speaker takes listeners on a flavorful journey through two distinct coffee processing methods—washed and natural. The discussion serves as a practical exploration of how the extraction methods influence coffee flavor profiles. By diving into this topic, learners are exposed not only to coffee culture but also to specific vocabulary and expressions that can enhance their everyday English communication skills.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Greetings Earthlings" - A playful way to say hello and create a friendly atmosphere.
  • "More subtle background flavor" - Useful for discussing nuances in taste or opinions.
  • "It's a little hard to describe" - A phrase that can help when discussing complex ideas or feelings.
  • "Jump out at you" - An idiomatic expression indicating something is very noticeable or striking.
  • "In between processes" - Helpful for talking about stages or variations in any situation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is an effective technique that can significantly aid in improving English pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to utilize shadowing with this episode:

  1. Listen Actively: First, listen to the episode entirely. Pay close attention to the speaker's tone, intonation, and speed. Focus on the way they articulate key phrases.
  2. Break It Down: Divide the transcript into smaller segments. For example, focus on one phrase or sentence at a time, like “It’s a little hard to describe.” Repeat it until you feel comfortable.
  3. Use a Shadowing App: Employ a shadowing app to play the audio while you practice speaking along with it, which will help you synchronize your speech with the native pronunciation.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone to record your pronunciation as you shadow the speaker. Comparing your voice to the original can highlight areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Make shadowing a part of your daily routine. By consistently using phrases like “jump out at you” in your conversations, you’ll become more fluent in different contexts.

Incorporating shadow speak into your English practice will not only enhance your speaking skills but also boost your confidence in daily communication. Let the vibrant world of coffee guide your journey as you learn English with YouTube!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwill be washed · be removed · is extracted
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowI've chosen · have been
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwe'll be · will be · will affect

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →