A bed of barley or other grain that has been removed from the steep tanks and laid out on a malting floor to germinate. The grain is piled to a specific depth to retain moisture and generate heat, initiating the enzymatic breakdown of the endosperm. As germination progresses, the maltster must regularly turn the couch to dissipate excess heat and prevent the rootlets from matting together.
Heard on the job
The temperature inside the couch is climbing past 18 degrees, so get the rakes and turn the pile before the grain over-modifies.