The Coffee Exporter's Guide - International Trade Centre

GRADING AND CLASSIFICATION
Green coffee is graded and classifi ed for export with the
ultimate aim of producing the best cup quality and thereby
securing the highest price. However, there is no universal
grading and classifi cation system – each producing
country has its own, which it may also use to set (minimum)
standards for export.
Grading and classifi cation is usually based on some of the
following criteria:
� Altitude and/or region;
� Botanical variety;
� Preparation (wet or dry process = washed or natural);
� Bean size (screen size), sometimes also bean shape and
colour;
� Number of defects (imperfections);
� Roast appearance and cup quality (fl avour,
characteristics, cleanliness, etc.);
� Density of the beans.
Most grading and classifi cation systems include (often
very detailed) criteria, e.g. regarding permissible defects,
which are not listed here. The Origins Encyclopaedia at
www.supremo.be is an example of a website which gives
information on the export classifi cation of coffees of most
origins. Terminology on size and defects as used for
classifi cations is also found at www.coffeeresearch.org.
The diversifi ed classifi cation terminology used in the trade
is illustrated with a few examples below. It should be noted
that descriptions such as ‘European preparation’ may differ
from one country to another. The examples refer primarily to
the trade in mainstream coffee and do not refl ect the often
more detailed descriptions used for niche markets.
Brazil/Santos NY 2/3
Screen 17/18, fi ne roast, strictly soft, fi ne cup.
Brazil/Santos NY 3/4
Screen 14/16, good roast, strictly soft, good cup (often
seen quoted as ‘Swedish preparation’).
Colombia Supremo screen 17/18
High grade type of washed arabica, screen 17 with
maximum 5% below. Often specifi ed with further details.
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Robusta Grade 2
Grade 2; scale is from 0 (best) to 4 based on screen size
and defects.
El Salvador SHG EP
Strictly High Grown (above 1,200 m; High Grown from
900–1,200 m and Central Standard from 500–900 m).
Commonly used quality descriptions are European
CHAPTER 1 – WORLD COFFEE TRADE – AN OVERVIEW 5
Preparation (maximum 6 defects per 300 g) and American
Preparation (maximum 12 defects per 300 g).
Ethiopia Jimma 5
Sun-dried (i.e. natural) arabica from the Jimma region.
Type 5 refers to a grading scale based on screen, defect
count and cup quality.
Guatemala SHB EP Huehuetenango
Strictly Hard Bean is from above 1,400 m. Scale includes
fi ve altitude levels from below 900 m (Prime washed) to
above 1,400 m. European preparation: above screen
15, allows maximum 8 defects per 300 g (American
preparation: above screen 14, allows 23 defects).
India Arabica Plantation A
Washed arabica, screen 17. Classifi cation is PB, A, B
and C. Other classifi cations apply to unwashed (naturals)
and robusta.
Indonesia Robusta Grade 4
The export grade scale goes from 0 (best) to 6. Grade
4 allows 45–80 defects. Region or other details are
sometimes specifi ed as quality, e.g. EK-1 and EK-Special.
Processing depends on the region (island).
Kenya AB FAQ even roast clean cup
Kenya arabica grade AB, fair average quality. Internal
grading system (E, AA, AB, PB, C, TT and T) is based on
bean size and density, further detailed by liquor quality
into 10 classifi cations. Top cupping coffees are mostly
sold on actual sample basis.
Mexico Prime Washed Europrep
Prime Washed (prima lavado) from altitude between
600 m and 900 m, on a scale from 400 m to 1,400 m;
Europrep is retained by screen 17 and allows maximum
15 defects per 300 g.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Smallholder Y1-grade
Y1 is one of the grades on a scale covering bean size,
defect count, colour, odour, roast aspects and cup
quality; AA, A, AB, B, C, PB, X, E, PSC, Y1, Y2 and T.
Viet Nam Robusta Grade 2 maximum 5% blacks and
broken
Grade 2 out of six grades: Special Grade and Grade 1
to 5, based on screen size and defects. (Descriptions
are often supplemented with further details on moisture
content, acceptable mix of bean types, bean size, etc.)