GRADING AND SIZING
Coffee has, in many countries, been graded by size longer than it has by quality. Even though larger bean sizes are not necessarily better, the advantage of having a smaller size range, is that the roasting is easier, and the resultant roast is likely to be more uniform. This is because coffee beans of different sizes also have different densities. The
following are the common size grades.
Peaberries – The result of only one seed forming inside the coffee fruit
AB Grade – Considered good quality based on size, but of less value than AA grade
AA Grade – The largest and most valuable beans from a particular lot of coffee
Pulped Natural Process – A little fruit flesh is still stuck to the bean, giving a slight orange colour
Fully Washed – These fully washed beans appear cleaner than the other two processes
Natural/Dry Process – Typically a very orange/brown colour compared with other green coffee due to the processing
Pacamara/Maragogype – Usually large in size and often considered desirable as a result
However, Indian coffees are graded in two different ways. The first is unique to India, and classifies all washed coffees as ‘Plantation Coffees’, all naturally processed coffees as ‘Cherry’, and all washed Robusta coffees as ‘Parchment Coffees’.
India also uses a size-based grading system, from AAA (the largest), down through AA, A and also PB (peaberry).
following are the common size grades.
Peaberries – The result of only one seed forming inside the coffee fruit
AB Grade – Considered good quality based on size, but of less value than AA grade
AA Grade – The largest and most valuable beans from a particular lot of coffee
Pulped Natural Process – A little fruit flesh is still stuck to the bean, giving a slight orange colour
Fully Washed – These fully washed beans appear cleaner than the other two processes
Natural/Dry Process – Typically a very orange/brown colour compared with other green coffee due to the processing
Pacamara/Maragogype – Usually large in size and often considered desirable as a result
However, Indian coffees are graded in two different ways. The first is unique to India, and classifies all washed coffees as ‘Plantation Coffees’, all naturally processed coffees as ‘Cherry’, and all washed Robusta coffees as ‘Parchment Coffees’.
India also uses a size-based grading system, from AAA (the largest), down through AA, A and also PB (peaberry).
S. No. | grade | SEIVE STANDARD | GARBLING STATUS | TOLERANCE | |
FLATS | TRIAGE | ||||
I. COMMERCIAL | |||||
1. ARABICA PARCHMENT: Washed | |||||
a | PB | None | Clean garbled | 2% by wt. | 3% by wt. |
b | A | Retain <90% by wt. for Screen 17 (6.65mm) Not <1.5%by wt. for Screen 15 (6.00mm) shall pass |
Clean garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
c | B | Retain >75% by wt. for Screen 15 (6.00mm) Not >1.5% by wt. for Screen 14 (5.50mm) |
Clean garbled | 2% by wt. | 3% by wt. |
d | C | Retain >75% by wt. for Screen 14 (5.50mm). 100% retention for Screen 13 (5.00mm) |
– | Allowed | Free from Blacks and Damaged Beans |
e | BLACKS/BROWNS | 100% by wt. retention on Screen 13 (5.00mm) | Broken Beans >1/4th of the bean black/dark brown/spotted etc. | Allowed | Allowed |
f | BITS | 100% will pass through screen 13 (5.00 mm) | Broken Beans <1/3rd of the bean size | – | – |
g | BULK | Ungraded | Blacks/Bits/Browns- Not more than 2% by wt. | ||
2. ARABICA CHERRY: Unwashed | |||||
a | PB | None | Clean garbled | 2% by wt. | 3% by wt. |
b | AB | Retain <90% by wt. for Screen 15 (6.00mm) Not <1.5%by wt. for Screen 14 (5.50mm) shall pass |
Clean garbled | 2% by wt. | 3% by wt. |
c | C | Retain >75% by wt. for Screen 14 (5.50mm) 100% by wt. shall stand on Screen 13 (5.00mm) |
Clean garbled | Not more than 2% by wt. of black/browns or bits | |
d | BLACKS/BROWNS | 100% by wt. retention on Screen 13 (5.00mm) | Broken Beans >1/4th of the bean black/dark brown/spotted etc. | – | – |
e | BITS | 100% by wt. will pass through Screen 13 (5.00mm) | Ungarbled | Broken Beans <1/3rd of the bean size | |
f | BULK | Ungraded | Blacks/Bits/Browns- Not more than 10% by wt. |
S. NO. | grade | SEIVE STANDARD | GARBLING STATUS | TOLERANCE | |
FLATS | TRIAGE | ||||
II. PREMIUM | |||||
1. ARABICA PARCHMENT: Washed: “Plantation” | |||||
a | AA | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 18 (7.10mm). 10% beans standing on Screen 17 (6.65mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | – |
b | PB BOLD | 100% by wt. retention on an oblong sieve (Screen 12 Oblong) 4.47 mm | Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
2. ARABICA CHERRY: Unwashed | |||||
a | AA | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 18 (7.10mm). 100% beans retention Screen 17 (6.65mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 1% by wt. |
b | A | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 17 (6.65mm). 100% beans retention on Screen 15 (6.00mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
c | PB BOLD | 100% by wt. retention on an oblong sieve (Screen 12 Oblong) 4.47 mm | Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
3. ROBUSTA PARCHMENT: Washed | |||||
a | A | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 17 (6.65mm). 100% beans retention on Screen 15 (6.00mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | No Tolerance |
b | PB BOLD | 100% beans retention on Screen 11 (4.50mm) | Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
4. ROBUSTA CHERRY: Unwashed | |||||
a | AA | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 18 (7.10mm). 100% beans retention on Screen 17 (6.65mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 1% by wt. |
b | A | >90% by wt. retention on Screen 17 (6.65mm). 100% beans retention on Screen 15 (6.00mm) |
Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |
c | PB BOLD | 100% beans retention on Screen 11 Oblong (4.50mm) | Clean Garbled | 2% by wt. | 2% by wt. |