Coffee lovers often leave messages in the background, asking which coffee (beans) is good? Which coffee is the best coffee?

These two questions are actually difficult to answer.

On the one hand, whether coffee is good or not is a very subjective topic. If you think the coffee tastes good, then the coffee beans are good coffee beans. Of course, this does not involve the factors of roasting and production.

However, there are few places in China where you can drink good coffee or really fresh coffee, so there is no such thing as encountering good coffee. Many friends do not have the opportunity to develop a correct coffee taste and do not know what kind of coffee is considered a qualified cup of coffee.

On the other hand, there are objective grading standards to judge the quality of coffee beans. Coffee beans are the second largest world trade commodity after oil. Therefore, the grading of coffee beans is first for the convenience of trading. Of course, high-grade coffee beans have high prices, and low-grade coffee beans have low prices.

The coffee bean grading methods of coffee producing countries around the world are different - grading by the number (rate) of defects, by altitude, by bean size, and by processing method, each has its own advantages.

Grading by defective bean points

This is the earliest coffee grading method. The identification method is to randomly select 300g of samples, put them on black paper (black paper can best avoid reflection), and find out the defective beans, including: black beans, stones, broken beans, insect beans, sour beans, peels, shelled beans, etc.

The grading expressions of different countries are slightly different. For example, Brazil is NY2, NY3... (but Brazil does not classify beans based on defective qualities alone, which will be described in detail later). Indonesia and Ethiopia use G1, G2, G3... to indicate this.

Representing country: Ethiopia

Ethiopian coffee beans are divided into 5 grades - G1-G5 , "G" stands for Grade.

For example: G1 means there are less than 3 defective beans per 300 grams of green beans;

G2 - 4-12 pieces;

G3 - 13-25 pieces;

G4 - 26-45 beads;

G5 - 46 or more

Key points: 1) Ethiopia does not grade coffee by size; 2) G1 and G2 are generally washed beans, while G3, G4, and G5 are sun-dried beans. Beans of these two grades, G4 and G5, are generally not sold as single-origin coffee, and we call them "commodity beans."

Question 1: Aren’t there G1 and G2 grades for sun-dried beans?

A: Yes! Because the sun-dried method is highly dependent on the weather, there are more uncontrollable factors than the washed method. Therefore, the sun-dried beans are mostly G3. However, there are still a few G1 and G2 sun-dried beans.

Summary: Don’t judge a hero by size! For washed leather, choose G1 or G2, and natural G3 is also good. If you encounter natural G1 or G2, buy it when it’s time!

Grading by bean size

This grading method is the most popular because high-grade beans can be seen clearly at a glance. The specific method is to use a perforated screen for grading. The screen has different specifications. The mesh is calculated in 1/64 inches. If the diameter of the mesh is 18/64, it is represented as 18 mesh, and so on. During the screening process, the coffee beans are placed on the screen and rolled back and forth by machine or manual. Beans smaller than the mesh fall down and are removed. After layers of screening, the grades of the coffee beans are separated. Representative countries include Kenya, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Yunnan, China, etc.

Representing country: Kenya

Kenyan coffee beans are loved by many people, not only because they taste good, but also because they are "big"! The " AA " in Kenya AA refers to the grade of Kenyan coffee beans, which are usually divided into 9 grades :

Washed beans: E (elephant beans), PB (round beans), AA, AB, C, TT, T Sun-dried beans: MH (soybean), ML (adzuki beans) Key points: The more common ones on the market are Kenyan PB, AA, and AB.

AA+, which is between PB and AA, is a micro-batch of AA with outstanding flavor and few defects. This is not something you add casually!

Summary: Kenyan beans are big and good, PB and AA are delicious

Special Representative Country: Colombia

Colombia, the origin of South American coffee, has always been world-famous for its mild taste and excellent balance . In Colombia, coffee beans are also graded by bean size, but AA is not used. Colombian grading - Supremo special grade, Excelso preferred grade. The former is bean size 17, generally high-quality washed Arabica beans. Supremo Screen 18+ refers to fine beans with bean size above 18.

Key points: Excelso's preferred grade will vary according to the export area, and the bean size will also change, for example:

Exported to Germany, Excelso-Klauss , mesh size 16.5;

Exported to France, Excelso-Europa , bean size 15;

Exported to Northern Europe, Excelso-Scandinava , mesh size 14.

If you are new to coffee, Colombian coffee beans are a safe choice!

Summary: Two levels of grading - special grade + preferred grade, Colombian beans are the most balanced!

Special Representative Country: Brazil

Brazil, the world's largest coffee bean producer, is also a typical country of origin that grades coffee beans by size. When it comes to Brazilian coffee grading, it's a headache because they use the triple standard of " defect rate + bean size + cupping grade ".

Key points: The highest grade of Brazilian coffee beans is NY 2. Important! Important! Important! (There is no grade 1)

For example: What does Brazil Santos NY.2 FC mean?

Answer: 1) Production area: Santos

2) NY: abbreviation of New York, referring to the number of defective beans;

3) NY.2: coffee bean size, 2 refers to 17-18 mesh (highest grade);

4) FC: Cupping Grade

Common cupping grades are:

- FC (Fine Cup)

- F (Fine)

-GC (Good Cup)

If the NY grades are the same, compare the cupping grades.

Summary: Only 2 is best, cupping rating is also important!

Classification by altitude

Generally speaking, due to the cold climate in mountainous areas, coffee grows slowly, the density of the green beans is higher, the texture is harder, and the flavor of the coffee is mellower and richer. Therefore, some countries also use "hardness" and "altitude" to grade coffee.

Representative countries: Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and other American countries all use this classification method.

Representing country: Costa Rica

Costa Rican coffee is famous for its outstanding sweetness . It is another typical coffee producing country that is classified according to altitude . Generally speaking, the density of green beans at low altitudes is smaller, while the density of green beans at higher altitudes is larger and the texture is harder. Alpine beans have a special aroma and a soft fruity and sour flavor. However, its classification and corresponding altitude are slightly different from those of Guatemala.

The key point is that most of the beans we usually buy are SHB and GHB beans, and Costa Rican coffee is mainly processed with honey.

Summary: Alpine beans are full of flavor, and tara beans are the sweetest!

Representing country: Guatemala

When you think of Guatemala, you probably think of volcanoes, so it's not hard to understand why Guatemala grades coffee beans by altitude. The highest grade is SHB Strictly Hard Bean, which refers to coffee beans produced at an altitude of 1,600-1,700 meters. The coffee bean grading table (in descending order) is as follows:

Additionally, Guatemalan coffee beans are sometimes graded as defective beans.

Summary: The coffee ash on the top of the volcano is very delicious!

Now, have you learned how to pick “beans”?