Common Coffee Bean Grade Classification Standards and Characteristics: What Do G1, AA, AB, SHB Grades Represent?

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Coffee enthusiasts who frequently purchase coffee beans will notice that single-origin coffee bean packaging often contains grade information such as G1, G2, SHB, etc. For example, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe G1 coffee beans. What does this represent? Actually, this indicates the grade of the coffee beans. The reason there are so many different grade indicators is that each country's growing region has different coffee grading standards due to varying growing environments and coffee varieties. In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will explain the standard characteristics of common coffee bean grading systems.

What Are Coffee Bean Grading Standards?

The proposal of coffee bean grading standards emerged with the rapid development of the specialty coffee industry. Coffee enthusiasts are no longer satisfied with early instant coffee but are moving toward single-origin coffee. Coffee enthusiasts know that the standard for single-origin coffee is traceable single-region Arabica coffee beans that must score above 80 points in cupping to be considered single-origin coffee. For example, the single-origin coffee beans at FrontStreet Coffee all score above 80 points in cupping, and they would not be shelved if they didn't meet the standard.

To achieve this score, the coffee beans used must be of high quality. However, not every coffee fruit on a coffee tree can be perfect in quality. Therefore, major growing regions began screening and grading coffee beans. This not only ensures coffee flavor and quality but also yields higher benefits. Consequently, each country has established corresponding coffee bean grading standards based on their own conditions.

Common Coffee Bean Grading Standards

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, general green coffee bean grading standards are based on coffee bean defect rates, bean size, hardness, growing altitude, and cupping grade. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will explain the coffee bean grading standards of major famous coffee growing regions.

Ethiopia - Grading by Coffee Defects

As the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia has extremely diverse coffee varieties. Currently, there are over 2,000 documented coffee varieties, with countless undocumented ones. Therefore, Ethiopian coffee beans vary in size and cannot be graded by size. Instead, Ethiopian coffee bean grading is based on the number of defects in the coffee beans.

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, before the establishment of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX), Ethiopia's coffee export grades were set by the CLU department (Cupping and Liquoring Unit) under the Ministry of Agriculture, primarily grading green coffee beans based on the number of defective beans in 300g samples. The grading standards are as shown in the table below.

Generally, washed processing yields G1-G2 grades. Due to technical issues with natural processing at that time, natural processed beans had more defects, typically G3-G5. With improvements in natural processing technology, current natural beans can also achieve G1-G2 grades.

Current Ethiopia ECX Grading System

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, after the establishment of ECX (Ethiopia Commodity Exchange) in 2008, Ethiopian coffee growing regions use a combination of physical attribute characteristics and cupping flavor characteristics for grading.

ECX classifies all coffee according to processing methods (non-washed and washed) into the following three types:

a. Specialty - Few defects, high cupping flavor quality
b. Commercial - Does not reach specialty grade but is higher than Local/Domestic consumption grade
c. Local/Domestic - Many defects (unripe beans), over-season and poorly stored resulting in relatively poor flavor coffee. (Consumed internally in Ethiopia, not circulated in international markets)

Among these, Specialty and Commercial are for international export markets. Different types have slightly different grading standards. Next, FrontStreet Coffee will share the grading standards for Ethiopian commercial and specialty grade coffee beans.

Commercial Grade Standards

ECX divides green coffee beans into nine grades based on the total score of physical attribute characteristics and cupping flavor characteristics, with physical characteristics accounting for 40% and cupping quality accounting for 60% (SCAA cupping standards). The grading standards are as shown in the table below.

Scores between 15-19 are classified as UG, indicating ungraded.

Specialty Grade Standards

The basic requirement for this grade rating is to grade further on the basis of commercial grading. When commercial grading reaches Grade 1-3, specialized cupping evaluation is conducted. Please refer to SCA standard cupping basic requirements for evaluation criteria.

Kenya - Grading by Green Bean Size

Kenya coffee beans began using a strict grading system in the 1930s, primarily based on coffee bean size, shape, and hardness, graded from high to low as AA or AA+, AB, PB, C, E, TT, T. This can be used as a reference when selecting, and coffee flavor is also considered. Currently, common grades in the mass market are AA, AB, and PB.

E (Elephant Beans): Here "E" represents "Elephant," but not the elephant bean variety in coffee bean types. It's a defect caused by abnormal development where two seeds intertwine, forming what appears to be a single bean. Generally, one fruit contains two seeds facing each other, so one side is flat, called flat beans, female beans, or double beans. E grade occurs when two seeds fuse together during growth, becoming extra-large beans! E grade particle size is about 18 mesh (one mesh = 1/64 inch) or above, and they are rare.

AA: This grade size falls around 17-18 mesh (approximately 6.7-7.1mm), which is the most commonly heard Kenya coffee grading. In specialty coffee, this grade is usually called AA TOP and is also a bean that many coffee shops promote, but AA doesn't necessarily mean the best - this is just bean particle size and shouldn't be confused with flavor.

AB: Most coffee beans fall into this grade, called AB mainly because A filter hole size is 6.80mm, while B is 6.20mm. These two sizes of coffee beans (A and B grades) are mixed and sold together, hence called AB. Size is about 15-16 mesh (approximately 6.0-6.4mm).

C: Particle size falls between 14-15 mesh (approximately 5.6-6.0mm), smaller than B grade.

PB: Called Peaberry in English, mostly called small round beans in Taiwan, can also be called male beans or single瓣 beans. Compared to ordinary flat beans, these are also rare, accounting for about 10% of all coffee beans, mainly because only one seed develops inside the fruit, resulting in small, round beans. Some people particularly love PB flavor, so PB beans are picked out and sold separately.

TT: These coffee beans are light beans screened from AA and AB beans using airflow sorters. They are usually light in weight, don't meet hardness standards, and may have broken and defective beans.

T: Lighter beans screened from C grade beans, mixed with damaged beans, and even fragments of broken beans.

MH/ML: This category of coffee beans is not exported. They are usually overripe coffee beans that have fallen to the ground, with poor quality, accounting for about 7% of all coffee beans, only for Kenya's domestic market.

Kenya Coffee Grading - Where Do AA TOP and AB TOP Come From?

Actually, according to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, besides the official version of Kenya coffee grading, Kenyan exporters or traders have created special grading for AA and AB (unofficial), commonly including: AA TOP, AA+, AA++, AB+, AB TOP, and AA FAQ, among other Kenya coffee grades.

FAQ is the abbreviation for Fair Average Quality, meaning average fair quality, representing the basic version of AA grade. However, for classifications like AA TOP, AB TOP, AA+, there are actually no specific standards. It's not necessarily true that two "+" signs mean better taste or flavor. Why?

The main reason is that this is not a unified standard. Different green bean traders or different people will produce different results. It's possible that Company A's AA+ might have flavor equivalent to Company B's AA++. Therefore, everything must return to cupping when you roast - that's the most practical approach!

Indonesia - Grading by Green Bean Mesh Size and Defect Rate

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, Indonesia's coffee bean grading standards are actually very similar to Ethiopia's, both relying on defect rates for grading. However, the final grade determination method is different. Indonesian beans are mainly divided into 6 levels: G1-G6.

Common abbreviations in Indonesian green coffee bean exports include:

Coffee Category:
R = Robusta, A = Arabica

Processing Method:
WP = Wet Processed
DP = Dry Processed/Natural
AP = After Polished (Polishing to remove silver skin)

Manual Selection Defect Bean Grade Classification:
D/P (Double Picked)
T/P (Triple Picked)

Meaning and Rules of Indonesian Green Coffee Bean Names:
Indonesia W.I.B
Indonesia G1

Country + Grade Name
W.I.B is most common and also the highest standard

Guatemala Coffee, Costa Rica Coffee, Panama Coffee - Grading by Green Bean Hardness

Next, the commonly used grading in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama is based on green bean hardness because, according to Frontsteet's understanding, coffee bean growing characteristics show that at the same latitude and same land area, when altitude is higher, the day-night temperature difference is greater, the coffee growing period is longer, beans are harder, beans absorb more nutrients, and flavor substances will be more obvious. Therefore, many coffee-producing countries in Central and South America south of Mexico use this as a standard. These producing countries only have one grade, SHB, when exporting green beans. As shown below:

El Salvador Coffee, Honduras Coffee, Nicaragua Coffee - Grading by Coffee Growing Altitude

Brazil - Grading by Green Bean Particle Size, Defect Count, and Cupping Grade

Coffee enthusiasts all know that Brazil is the world's number one coffee producer and exporter. According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, Brazilian coffee naming convention is: Country + Region (Port) + Grade Name + Cupping Quality

For example: Brazil Santos NY.2 FC means Brazil Santos region grade 2, best cupping quality beans. Brazil believes that only completely defect-free beans can become NY.1, but completely defect-free beans don't exist. Therefore, the best in Brazilian green beans is NY.2.

The cupping level classification standards are as follows:

Fine Cup (FC), Fine, Good Cup (GC), Fair Cup, Poor Cup, Bad Cup

Colombia - Grading by Green Bean Particle Size

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, Colombian coffee bean grade naming convention is: Country + Region + Grade Name + Certification. For example: Colombia Huila Supremo SC17/18 FNC means Colombia Huila region highest grade beans, FNC certified.

Secondly, Colombia's Coffee Growers Federation is a joint organization that guides and helps coffee farmers sell and promote coffee. Therefore, we see FNC markings on all Colombian green bean exports, whether in jute bags or cardboard boxes. The full text of this abbreviation is: Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia.

Common Colombian coffee bean grade names and standards (as shown below):

Jamaica - Grading by Green Bean Particle Size

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, Blue Mountain No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and Blue Mountain Peaberry are the only coffees in the world exported using wooden barrel packaging, available in three specifications: 70kg, 30kg, and 15kg. Other grades of Jamaican coffee are exported in 60kg jute bags. Grading standards are as shown below:

Hawaii Kona - Grading by Green Bean Mesh Size and Defect Count

According to FrontStreet Coffee's understanding, Hawaii Kona coffee is mainly divided into Type 1 and Type 2, with further subdivisions into several grades. Type 1 refers to regular flat beans, while Type 2 belongs to peaberries.

Due to Kona coffee's excellent processing, all grades in the chart below can be classified as specialty coffee.

The above is FrontStreet Coffee's compilation of information about coffee bean grading. We hope this helps coffee enthusiasts who want to understand related knowledge, so they can better choose high-quality coffee beans that suit their tastes in the future.

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