Nav: Home > Coffee >

A Comprehensive Guide to Coffee Bean Classification: Grading Systems and Quality Standards Across Coffee-Producing Countries

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, At FrontStreet Coffee's facility, each new batch of beans we receive comes with detailed information including country of origin, altitude, estate, processing method, and—importantly—the coffee's grading system. Terms like Kenya PB or Yirgacheffe G1 might leave you wondering what these grade letters actually signify. In reality, different coffee-producing countries and regions employ varying classification standards to assess and categorize their coffee beans.

At FrontStreet Coffee, every batch of new beans received comes with information about various aspects of the coffee, including its country of origin, altitude, estate, processing method, and today's topic: coffee grading. For example, Kenya PB, Yirgacheffe G1—what do these grading letters mean? In fact, coffee grading standards differ across various coffee-producing countries and regions.

Coffee beans can be graded according to their quality through grade designation or classification, but grading methods and standards may vary depending on each producing country or region, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders. Coffee bean grades are generally determined by what's known as "screen size" - the size of the beans.

Kilimanjaro

Classified by coffee bean size and weight, divided into nine grades in descending order: AA, A, B, AF, C, TT, F, PB, E.

(AF refers to lighter coffee beans within grade A and below)

(TT refers to lighter coffee beans selected from grade B)

(F refers to lighter coffee beans within AF and TT)

(PB refers to Peaberry coffee beans)

(E refers to Elephant beans)

Coffee beans being graded at a processing facility

Kenya

Classified by coffee bean size, weight, and shape, divided into grades: PB, AA, AB, C, E, TT, T.

(PB refers to Peaberry coffee beans)

(TT refers to lighter coffee beans selected from all grades, including fragments of elephant beans)

(T refers to smallest coffee beans, damaged coffee beans, and immature coffee beans)

Mocha Harrah

Classified by the number of defective beans into eight grades: G1-G8, with G1 being the highest grade. Export standards require G5 or above with 46-100 defective beans.

Mocha Sidamo

Classified by the number of defective beans into eight grades: G1-G8, with G1 being the highest grade. Export standards require G5 or above with 46-100 defective beans.

Mocha Mattari

Has no formal grading standards.

Various coffee bean grades displayed side by side

Blue Mountain

Classified by coffee bean size and number of defective beans, from high to low: Blue Mountain No.1, No.2, No.3, and Mixed Grade.

Puerto Rico

Has no formal grading standards.

Cuba

Among coffees produced in Cuba, CM (Crystal Mountain) is the highest grade. Classified by coffee bean size and number of defective beans, divided into three grades: ETL (Extra Special), TL (Medium Grade), AL (Ordinary).

Mexico

Classified by altitude of origin, from high to low: SHG, HG, PW, GW.

Coffee beans being sorted by size through a screening process

Guatemala

Classified by altitude of coffee origin, from high to low: SHB (Strictly Hard Bean), HB (Hard Bean), SH (Semi-Hard Bean), EPW (Extra Prime Washed), PW (Prime Washed), EGW (Extra Good Washed), GW (Good Washed).

El Salvador

Classified by altitude of coffee origin, from high to low: SHG, HG, CS.

Honduras

Classified by altitude of coffee origin, from high to low: SHG, HG, S.

Costa Rica

Classified by origin and altitude, divided into: SHB, GHB (Good Hard Bean), HB, MHB, HGA (High Grown Atlantic), MGA (Medium Grown Atlantic), LGA (Low Grown Atlantic).

Brazil

Classified by number of defective beans from high to low: No.2-No.8. Classified by coffee bean size into 10 stages. Further classified by cupping into: Strictly Soft, Soft, Softish, Hard (astringent), Rioy (mild iodine flavor), Rio (iodine flavor), Rio Zone (strong iodine flavor), with more detailed taste grade divisions.

Colombia

Classified by coffee bean size and number of defective beans, from high to low: Supremo and Excelso. "Emerald Mountain" is a designation given by the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation to the top 1% of all Colombian coffee beans.

Peru

Classified by defective bean sorting method, from high to low: ESHP (Electronic Sorted & Hand Picked), ES (Electronic Sorted), MCM (Machine Cleaned Mejorad), MC (Machine Cleaned).