How Are Colombian Coffee Beans Graded?
Colombia grows mainly Arabica, known as small-bean coffee, and grades it into over 200 categories. Supremo is the top grade, followed by Excelso; only beans sized 18 and above qualify as specialty coffee. Beyond screen size, the country classifies beans by growing altitude, with seven tiers that reflect quality differences. The overall cup is balanced and smooth, often described as the gentleman of coffees.
The Central Mountain region yields the fullest body. Medellin, Armenia and Manizales, together called MAM, are the most famous districts, and Nariño gained wider fame through Starbucks' exclusive purchasing rights to its Supremo beans. As for which country produces most coffee?, Brazil holds that spot, and its seeds tend to be larger, with strong adaptability and high yield.
Colombian coffee is renowned for its mild, high quality, and its strict grading system and distinctive regional characteristics attract much attention from coffee lovers. From Supremo to Excelso, and further to the seven-tier classification determined by altitude, each grade reflects a difference in quality. Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales in the Central Mountain region are collectively known as "MAM," while Narino coffee has gained even greater fame due to Starbucks' exclusive purchasing rights. This article will guide you through an in-depth understanding of Colombian coffee varieties, grading standards, and the flavor characteristics of major producing regions, while also recommending related products from Front Street Coffee to help you find the perfect cup.
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The coffee grown in Colombia is primarily Arabica (coffea arabica), also known as the familiar small-bean coffee. In contrast, Robusta (coffea robusta) is mostly produced in its native Africa, such as the well-known Madagascar coffee. Under Arabica, there are several varieties; among them, Brazilian coffee seeds tend to be larger, with strong adaptability and high yield, ranking first in world production. Colombian mild coffee, however, is superior in quality, thanks to its unique geographical location and climate conditions.
Colombian coffee is classified into over 200 grades based on quality, with very distinct regional characteristics. The country's coffee beans have Supremo as the highest grade, followed by Excelso; only beans of size 18 and above (18/64 inch in diameter) qualify as specialty coffee. Colombian coffee has an overall balanced flavor and smooth mouthfeel, often likened to a gentleman among coffees—proper and reliable. Production areas are widespread, but the Central Mountain region produces the best quality coffee with a full body. Among them, Medellin, Armenia, and Manizales are the most famous producing areas, conventionally collectively referred to as "MAM." In , Narino coffee is delicious and of excellent quality. It is said that Starbucks, a company dedicated to specialty coffee, holds exclusive purchasing rights to Narino Supremo coffee beans, and these beans are commonly found in their chain stores.
Coffee bean grade classification:
Based on the altitude of the cultivation site, it can be divided into grades three, four, and seven. Unit: meters.
Premium beans: above 1500
Superior beans: 1200 to 1500 Medium beans: 1000 to 1200
Premium washed beans: 900 to 1000 Superior washed beans: 760 to 900
Extra fine washed beans: 610 to 760
Fine washed beans: below 610
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
