Are Uganda Coffee Varieties Arabica? Uganda Coffee Grading Classification Seems Familiar

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Ugandan Coffee

SL stands for Scott Labs. Beginning in the 1930s, Scott Labs was commissioned by the Kenyan government to study coffee breeding and classification, with the goal of finding varieties that could adapt to Kenya's environment, tolerate large-scale cultivation, and hold commercial value. Working from ancient Yemeni Mocha stock and Bourbon from Réunion Island, the lab developed the SL series through years of selection; SL-14, SL-28, and SL-34 are the best-known results. Scott Labs was active from the 1930s to the 1960s and no longer exists, but SL-28 in particular remains Kenya's top coffee variety. Given the shared border, Uganda adopted SL series varieties as well.

Ugandan Coffee Classification System

Uganda grades its coffee much like Kenya does: by bean size and density.

Classification Grades:

AA Plus (AA+): AA-grade beans with particularly outstanding cup quality (flavor and mouthfeel).

AA: Screen size 17-18.

AB: Screen size 15-16; this grade makes up the majority of production.

C: Smaller than AB screen size.

TT: Lighter-weight beans separated from AA and AB lots by air screeners.

T: Lighter-weight beans separated from C grade by air screeners.

E (Elephant Bean): Large mutation beans in which two beans are fused together, also known as elephant ear beans.

UG: Beans that fail to meet any of the standards above.

PB (Peaberry): Graded by shape only, unrelated to flavor or weight.

Knowledge Point:

Like Congo, Uganda is an original home of Robusta coffee. As Africa's second-largest coffee exporter, Uganda's Robusta exports account for seven percent of global production.

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Most specialty coffee on the market today is Arabica, and Uganda's grading system exists to sort it. If you want to taste classic Arabica character, FrontStreet Coffee's natural Sidamo Guji Hambella lot is a fine starting point: it uses Ethiopia's most common local heirloom varieties, processed with the traditional natural method, revealing cream strawberry, mango, jackfruit, citrus, and blueberry notes—the lush berry character that once won first place in the TOH green bean competition.

For the washed side of Arabica, FrontStreet Coffee's Yirgacheffe Worka (Guodingding) Cooperative lot—top Ethiopian grade G1—shows elegant white florals with citrus, orange, and green tea flavors. And for a truly classic Typica expression, FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 delivers exceptional balance: mild, smooth, and fragrant, with no harsh edges.