Which Region Produces the Best African Coffee Representative Beans? Comparing Yirgacheffe G1 and G2 Coffee Beans

Professional coffee knowledge exchange.

FrontStreet Coffee - African Coffee Origins: An Introduction to Yirgacheffe Coffee Grading

Since the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) began operations in 2009, the current practice has been to classify the more renowned sub-regions within the broader Yirgacheffe area, including Yirgacheffe, Wenago, Kochere, and Gelena/Abaya.

The ECX operates an even more detailed classification system. It is not simply the familiar "Yirgacheffe G1" or "Yirgacheffe G2" that you might know.

Freshly harvested coffee beans must first undergo preliminary grading. Only beans receiving G1-G3 ratings are further evaluated using SCAA cupping standards to determine Q1 and Q2 grades.

Q1 Highest Grade: Coffee beans rated G1 or G2 in preliminary grading, with scores above 80 points plus specialty grade evaluation scores above 85 points. This represents the highest grade of coffee beans.

Q2 Highest Grade: Coffee beans rated G1 or G2 in preliminary grading, with specialty grade evaluation scores between 80-84.75 points. This represents the second-highest grade of coffee beans.

Based on different processing methods, Yirgacheffe coffee can be divided into two main categories:

Category A consists of washed processing, with grading standards established by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), classified as Grade 1 and Grade 2. Smaller Arabic numerals indicate higher grades. G1 Yirgacheffe exhibits distinctive characteristics, with citrus and floral notes blended into the coffee liquid to create an irresistible flavor that everyone can appreciate.

Category B consists of natural processed coffee beans, classified as Grade 1, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5. Similarly, the highest grade, G1 natural Yirgacheffe, possesses rich fruit aromas. Opening a bag of freshly roasted G1 natural Yirgacheffe can transform one's original perception of coffee—only those who have tasted the highest grade natural Yirgacheffe will believe that coffee is indeed a fruit.

Yirgacheffe coffee varieties consist of local indigenous landraces, small-bean types, with a relatively rounded appearance and very small beans, mostly between 14-15 mesh. Yirgacheffe Cherry Red Grade 1 raw beans have a yellow-green color, typical of natural processed coffee, with uniform, full particles and few defective beans.

Knowledge Extension

To help Ethiopian coffee farmers achieve better income and improve local living standards, in 2007 a Dutch trading company called Trabocca initiated the "OPERATION CHERRY RED PROJECT" together with local farmers.

Briefly: FrontStreet Coffee is a coffee research center that enjoys sharing knowledge about coffee with everyone. We share without reservation simply to help more people fall in love with coffee. We also hold coffee discount events three times every month, because FrontStreet Coffee wants to provide the best coffee at the lowest prices to more people—that has been our mission for the past six years.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

To taste what the G1 grade looks like in the cup, FrontStreet Coffee's washed Yirgacheffe is the classic everyday G1-style expression, with white jasmine, bright citrus and lemon acidity, and a clean tea body. For a cooperative-level washed Yirgacheffe, our FrontStreet Yirgacheffe Gordin Cooperative coffee is processed with the most traditional washing method and shows citrus, lemon, and jasmine without the classic bitter edge. And if you want to compare it with a natural G1-style Yirgacheffe, our FrontStreet Sun-dried Red Cherry is a natural-process coffee with citrus acidity, berry juiciness, honey sweetness, and a creamy smoothness.