Coffee culture

Which South American Country Has the Best Coffee? Colombia Supremo - The Highest Grade Coffee

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information. Please follow Cafe Style (WeChat Official Account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Colombia Supremo Coffee Introduction. Colombian beans have Supremo as the highest grade, with Excelso as the second grade; but only Supremo coffee with beans of 18 screen (diameter 18/64 inches) or larger can be classified as specialty coffee. Colombia
Colombian Supremo Coffee

For more professional coffee knowledge exchange and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style)

FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Colombian Supremo Coffee

Colombian beans are graded with Supremo as the highest level, followed by Excelso; however, only Supremo grade coffee with beans above size 18 (18/64 inch diameter) can be classified as specialty coffee. Colombian coffee features balanced flavors with a relatively smooth mouthfeel, much like a gentleman among coffees—well-mannered and proper. Its growing regions are quite extensive, but coffee from the central mountain regions is the best, with rich texture. The most renowned producing areas include Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales, commonly referred to collectively as "MAM."

Colombian Coffee Grade Standards

Grade Size Description
Supremo screen (Premium Select) Approximately 95% screen 18, no more than 5% below screen 18 but above screen 14
Supremo Approximately 95% above screen 17, no more than 5% below screen 17 but above screen 14
Excelso Extra (Premium First Grade) Approximately 95% above screen 16, no more than 5% below screen 16 but above screen 14
Excelso EP (Premium Second Grade) Approximately 95% above screen 15, no more than 2.5% below screen 15 but above screen 12 (this ratio may be adjusted to 5% or 8% based on requirements)
U.G.Q. (Usual Good Quality) Screen size smaller than 14, but no more than 1.5% below screen 12

Characteristics of Colombian Coffee

"Heavy beans, rich nutrition, and intense aroma" are consistent evaluations of Colombian coffee beans. Most Colombian coffee undergoes washed processing, with each small farming family having a small specialized processor (Ecomill or Eco-Pulper) for drying. Depending on weather conditions, natural sun-drying is preferred when weather is favorable. During continuous rainy weather, mechanical dryers are used, all equipped with intake temperature control typically set around 50°C. Roasted Colombian coffee beans release a sweet fragrance, characterized by a balanced acidity with sweetness and moderate bitterness.

People equate Colombian coffee with high quality and excellent taste. It offers acidity with sweetness, low bitterness, rich nutrition, and unique acidic and mellow flavors. In Colombian Supremo coffee, the three flavors of acidity, bitterness, and sweetness are perfectly balanced. With its distinctive aroma, the fragrance fills the entire mouth after consumption. Exhaling the mouth's aroma through the nose reveals a very full-bodied experience. You might find it overpowering, as it quickly captures one's taste buds, thoughts, and even soul.

In Summary

FrontStreet Coffee is a dedicated coffee research establishment, happy to share coffee knowledge with everyone. We share without reservation solely to help more friends fall in love with coffee. Additionally, we hold three coffee discount events monthly because FrontStreet Coffee wants to provide the best coffee at the lowest prices for more friends—this has been FrontStreet Coffee's mission for six years!

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

0