What are Supremo and Excelso in Colombian Coffee Grading?

Colombia is one of the world's top three coffee-producing countries, primarily exporting the Arabica variety. Colombian coffee is known for its chocolate flavor notes, its overall balance, and its large production volume, which makes it a common component of coffee blends. The country's exported green beans have a dedicated grading system, based mainly on defect rate and bean size. In the market, Colombian coffee is often labeled "Supremo" and "Excelso." What do these terms mean?

In Colombia, all green coffee beans that meet export standards are labeled "Excelso" on their burlap packaging. Excelso is the export standard grade adopted by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) and represents the premium grade for Colombian green coffee beans.

To achieve Excelso grade, coffee must meet specific standards: in a 500-gram sample of green coffee beans, the size must be above screen 14, with at least 50% of the beans larger than screen 15. No more than 5% of the beans may fall between screen 12 and 14. In addition, the coffee must be free of pests, have uniform color, no off-flavors, a clean taste, a moisture content not exceeding 12.5%, and cumulative defects not exceeding 24 points.

According to FNC regulations, green coffee bean defects are classified as primary and secondary defects and evaluated using a point system. The measurement standard specifies that in a 500-gram sample of green coffee beans, the defect score must not exceed 24 points.

For some coffee-producing countries, the size of green beans is not the primary criterion for determining coffee quality and flavor. Other producing countries believe that overall full, uniform, and large beans show that the coffee reached complete maturity, which benefits even roasting and can create consistent flavors.

In Colombia's green coffee bean screen size classification, fixed-size screens are used, with different specifications corresponding to different hole sizes. For example, if a screen has 17 holes, coffee beans larger than screen 17 cannot pass through it. At present, the FNC has subdivided different levels of coffee beans based on screen size, with the three most commonly used grades being Excelso UGQ12*60 (1.5%), Excelso EP12*60 (10%), and Excelso Supremo12*60 (5%).

Specifically, Excelso UGQ12*60 (1.5%) means the green beans are larger than screen 14, with 1.5% of beans allowed between screen 12 and 14 but still above screen 12, and over 50% larger than screen 15.

Excelso EP12*60 (10%) means the green beans are larger than screen 15, with 10% of beans allowed to be smaller than screen 15 but still above screen 12.

Excelso Supremo12*60 (5%) means the green beans are larger than screen 17, with 5% of beans allowed to be smaller than screen 17 but still above screen 14.

"Supremo" is therefore a classification level based on screen size, where the percentage in parentheses represents the tolerance rate. "12*60" means that in a 500-gram sample of these green beans, a maximum of 12 primary defect beans and 60 secondary defect beans are allowed.

Although over 90% of Colombia's green coffee beans are used for export, some beans still do not meet the Excelso grade. These are called "Product of Colombia" and can also be exported once they meet phytosanitary requirements, but they are typically used for making instant coffee.

Colombian coffee farmers therefore record numbers and green bean information to facilitate future traceability. Green coffee beans are typically named by country, region, grade, and screen size. FrontStreet Coffee's Colombian Huila daily blend, for example, is named "Colombia Huila Supremo SC17/18 FNC."

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FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

To understand the Colombian origin, the FrontStreet Colombia Huila is a good starting point. Huila Province, in the southern part of Colombia's Central Cordillera, is the country's most famous specialty coffee region. Ringed by mountains, it sits above 1500 meters, and the country's most important rivers converge here, bringing abundant water and humidity. FrontStreet's washed Huila is medium-dark roasted, which brings forward black chocolate and nutty sweetness, moderate oil, and a full body. It suits pour-over and French press, and it also works in a moka pot or espresso machine for an Americano or latte.

If you want a richer, more textured espresso base, the FrontStreet Classic Espresso Blend is a dedicated latte and moka-pot blend whose standout strength is its exceptional crema, which even a beginner can pull on a non-professional home machine. Built on a traditional Mamba-style recipe that combines the creamy nut character of Brazilian coffee with the dark chocolate bittersweetness of Colombian coffee, it delivers a thick, warm body that suits both home and commercial use.