What Do Coffee Bean Grades G1, G2, G3, G4, AA, PB, and SHB Represent?

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Coffee Bean Grading Systems by Country

Coffee beans are graded from G1-G9 based on physical characteristics and basic cupping quality scores. Among these, G1-G3 undergo further cupping and are classified more precisely according to SCAA standards based on attribute assessment.

Among these, G1 and G2 with scores not lower than 85 are rated as Q1 grade; G1, G2, and G3 with scores between 80-85 are rated as Q2 grade; all G1, G2, and G3 below 80 points are rated as G3 grade; Q1 and Q2 are classified as Specialty Grade for export; G4-G9 maintain their original grading and are classified as Commercial Grade for export together with G3.

Jamaica

Based on bean size and defect percentage.

Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala

Based on altitude

Mexico

Graded by growing altitude, with the highest being SHG (Strictly High Grown)

Dominican Republic

Particle size grading system, with AAA grade having the largest particles (19 mesh screen), followed by AA grade (17/18 mesh screen), and A grade (16 mesh screen)

Colombia

Graded by bean size.

El Salvador, Honduras

Graded by growing altitude

Brazil

Graded by defect percentage and screen size.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia's coffee export grades are established 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 per 300g.

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

Yemen

No explicitly defined export coffee bean grades; all are exported by product name.

Kenya, Rwanda

Graded by bean size, with value determined by cupping. The largest beans are E grade (elephant beans), followed by AA grade (beans retained on 7.2mm sieve), A grade (beans retained on 6.8mm sieve), B grade (beans retained on 6.2mm sieve), C grade (small beans smaller than B grade), PB (oval-shaped beans), and TT and T grade beans that are too light and small. A grade and B grade beans are mixed together for export and called AB grade.

Cupping determines value, from best to worst: Fine, Fair to Good, Fair Average Quality (FAQ), Fair, Common Plain Liquors. Premium grades are marked with AA TOP, AB TOP.

Tanzania

Similar to Kenya's grading system, where PB represents oval beans, AAA grade is the largest beans, AA grade is the next largest, followed by A grade beans, and C grade beans.

Burundi

Graded by bean size, with the highest grade washed beans branded as Ngoma, requiring beans to be retained on 7.1mm sieve; washed AA grade beans are also retained on 7.1mm sieve, A grade on 6.5mm, B grade on 5.5mm..., semi-washed highest grade is AB, including beans retained on 7.1mm and 6.5mm sieves, followed by C grade, retained on 5.5mm sieve.

Indonesia (Sumatra)

Graded by bean size and number of defects. Gr.1 is the highest export grade, but bean appearance is unrelated to actual quality, which must be determined by cupping. There are also specialty coffees from estates that can be selected without restriction.

India

Includes monsooned exports, the most famous being Monsooned Malabar AA, along with Monsooned Basanally, Monsooned Triage, Monsooned Robusta AA, and Monsooned Robusta Triage.

Papua New Guinea

Graded by bean size and defective bean percentage. Premium A grade from large estates (above No. 17 sieve screen with average less than 10 defective units per kg of green beans), followed by X grade from small farms (above No. 15 sieve screen with average less than 20 defective units per kg of green beans)...

Hawaii

Extra Fancy: flat beans No. 19 sieve / round beans No. 13 sieve, 8 defects per 300g

Fancy: flat beans No. 18 sieve / round beans No. 12 sieve, 12 defects per 300g

No.1: flat beans No. 16 sieve / round beans No. 10 sieve, 18 defects per 300g

Additionally, there are Estate Select and Prime grades.