Colombia is a major producer of global Arabica coffee, and its green bean exports follow a grading system centered on defect rates and bean size. What exactly do the Supremo and Excelso labels commonly seen on the market represent? Starting from FNC's export standards, this article sorts out Excelso's mandatory requirements, the logic behind screen-size grading, and the specific tolerance rates for the three commonly used grades UGQ, EP, and Supremo, while also explaining the defect scoring rules behind the number string "12*60," helping coffee enthusiasts decipher the grading code in the names of Colombian green coffee beans. [more…]

Colombia's coffee grading system is more complex than that of most Central American producing countries. It is based not only on altitude, but also on a set of export standards built around defect rates and screen size. The Excelso grade adopted by the FNC is the highest export grade for Colombian green coffee. The burlap sacks are marked with "Excelso-Café de Colombia" and accompanied by a quality certificate. This article covers everything from the grading logic, screen size requirements, and defect deduction rules to the three most common export grades, and uses a washed Caturra from the Huila region as an example to explain green coffee traceability and cupping flavor performance, helping coffee enthusiasts understand the meaning behind Colombian green coffee labels. [more…]

The green coffee bean grading system directly affects roasting results and coffee quality. This article systematically sorts out two mainstream grading methods: distinguishing bean size by screen mesh number, and classifying grades based on growing altitude. It also summarizes the common grading standards and codes of origins such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Hawaii, Jamaica, and Indonesia. Whether for bulk trade or specialty coffee, understanding these grading rules helps to more accurately judge the characteristics of green beans, and Front Street Coffee also incorporates this knowledge into its daily bean selection and roasting practices. [more…]

Colombia, with the superior terrain and diverse climate of the Andes Mountains, has become an important origin of high-quality Arabica coffee worldwide. Starting from the role of FNC, this article will systematically sort out the screen-size grading system for Colombian green beans—the relationship between UGQ, EP, Supremo, and Excelso export grades—and analyze the terroir characteristics and washed processing methods of the Huila producing region. At the same time, Front Street Coffee uses a medium-dark roasted Huila everyday coffee as an example to share brewing parameters and flavor performance, taking you from the cup to experience the classic, sweet, and mellow charm of Colombian coffee. [more…]

Colombian coffee, with the diverse terroirs of the Andes and refined washed processing, has become a force that cannot be overlooked on the global specialty coffee map. From the classic image of Juan Valdez to the rising specialty regions of Huila in the south, from raw bean screen-size grading to the Excelso export standard, this article systematically sorts out the origin characteristics, processing methods, and grading system of Colombian coffee. At the same time, Front Street Coffee uses a Huila washed everyday drinking bean as an example to share brewing parameters and flavor performance under medium-dark roasting, taking you through a comprehensive understanding of the core charm of this South American coffee powerhouse. [more…]

As an agricultural product, coffee beans vary significantly in quality, so a grading system is needed to standardize quality and provide reference for buyers. However, the geographical environments and cultivation models of global producing regions differ enormously, making it impossible to measure them with a unified standard; each region can only adapt to local conditions. Currently, mainstream grading methods fall into three major categories: screen size, altitude/hardness, and defect rate, and many countries combine them or even add cupping to compensate for shortcomings. This article will systematically sort out the logic and representative producing countries of these three grading methods, with a focus on analyzing how Kenya grades solely by bean size, and introduce the grading practices of Colombia, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Indonesia, Brazil, and other countries. Front Street Coffee will also share related brand product information to help coffee enthusiasts understand the meaning behind green bean grades. [more…]

Colombian coffee, with its soft berry acidity, roasted nut aroma, and caramel sweetness, has become a favorite among many pour-over beginners. As the world's second-largest Arabica producer, Colombia's volcanic soil and high-altitude microclimates give its coffee beans a full, solid mouthfeel. This article will systematically sort out the grading system for Colombian green beans—how many screen sizes Supreme, EP, and U.G.Q correspond to respectively, clarify the common misconception that Excelso is not a grade but an export standard, and introduce the flavor profile of washed beans from the Huila region along with Front Street Coffee's recommended V60 three-pour brewing method, helping coffee lovers experience the unique charm of Colombian coffee at an affordable cost. [more…]

Mandheling coffee, with its rich, full-bodied taste and herbal, pine, and spice notes, has long been prized by seasoned coffee enthusiasts. However, full-bodied does not mean bitter; when a coffee's body reaches a certain level, a sweet aftertaste reminiscent of cane sugar or brown sugar emerges instead. There are many beans on the market marketed under the banner of "Golden Mandheling," yet their prices and quality vary widely, and the most easily confused among them are authentic PWN Golden Mandheling and the large-bean Mandheling advertised as "20 mesh." This article focuses on Front Street Indonesian Mandheling and Front Street PWN Golden Mandheling—their origins, screening standards, and cupping performance—to help you understand what true Golden Mandheling really is, and how it differs fundamentally from so-called 20-mesh Mandheling. [more…]

Kenyan coffee is renowned for its bright fruit acidity and solid sweetness. Behind this highly recognizable flavor profile lies a strict grading system that has been in use for nearly a century. Since the 1930s, Kenya has established grade classifications based on coffee bean size, shape, and hardness, while also incorporating flavor grade assessments to provide a double safeguard for green bean quality. What exactly do common grades like AA, AB, and PB represent? What do AA+ and TOP AA mean respectively? This article systematically sorts out the grading logic of Kenyan coffee, the screen sizes corresponding to each grade, and uses Front Street Coffee's own roasted Kenyan Asaliya coffee beans as an example to share their origin background, processing method, and brewing suggestions, helping coffee enthusiasts more clearly understand the quality framework of Kenyan coffee. [more…]

Tanzania's Kilimanjaro coffee is hailed as one of the representatives of African specialty coffee. Front Street Coffee will provide coffee enthusiasts with a comprehensive analysis of this coffee bean's unique charm from multiple angles, including the geography of the producing region, variety characteristics, green bean grading, flavor comparison with Kenyan coffee, and processing methods. As the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro is both a volcano and a snow-capped mountain, providing excellent natural conditions for coffee cultivation. This article will help you gain an in-depth understanding of the flavor profile and quality characteristics of Kilimanjaro coffee, while also providing a reference for choosing coffee beans that suit your own taste. [more…]

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is world-renowned for its unique flavor and strict controls. Jamaican law stipulates that only coffee beans grown in the Blue Mountain region may bear the name "Blue Mountain." High-grade Blue Mountain coffee is divided into three grades—No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3—corresponding respectively to screen size standards of 17–18 mesh and above, 16 mesh, and 15 mesh. The green beans of all three grades must be packed into wooden barrels for export, with the barrel bearing the estate name, importer's abbreviation, and batch information, along with a government-certified green certificate of origin. Understanding these grades and export regulations helps coffee enthusiasts verify authenticity and make informed purchases of genuine Blue Mountain coffee. Front Street Coffee recommends that consumers pay attention to the roast level and packaging format to judge the true quality of the Blue Mountain coffee in their hands. [more…]

Brazil, as the world's largest coffee producer, is known for the coffee beans from the Cerrado region in the central-west of Minas Gerais, which are celebrated for their mild flavor and consistent quality. Among Front Street Coffee's daily drinking bean series, the Brazil Cerrado Red Bourbon has won the favor of many coffee lovers with its rich, smooth body and intense chocolate and nutty flavors. This article will systematically review the terroir conditions of the Cerrado region, the characteristics of the Bourbon variety, and the semi-washed processing method, and will further analyze the three major grading dimensions of Brazilian green coffee—defect ratio, screen size specifications, and cup profile—to help readers thoroughly understand the complete meaning behind the label "Brazil NY.2SC – 17/18 FC Cerrado," along with the brewing parameters and flavor tasting notes from Front Street Coffee's baristas. [more…]

The status of Blue Mountain coffee in the coffee world is almost universally known; even those who don't drink coffee often have heard the name. How exactly are Jamaican Blue Mountain coffees graded? From Blue Mountain to High Mountain to Prime, what are the elevation thresholds, screen size requirements, and defect rate standards for each grade? This article will guide you through a systematic understanding of Jamaica's coffee grading system, from the history of the producing region and the geographical conditions of the Blue Mountain range to the specific grade parameters set by the CIB, and will introduce the Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee on Front Street Coffee's bean list, helping you gain a comprehensive understanding of the strict standards behind this world-class coffee. [more…]

Colombia, with the high altitudes and diverse climates of the Andes Mountains, produces Arabica coffee of outstanding quality. This article systematically examines the core characteristics of Colombian coffee—from the growing environment and variety composition to the FNC management system and green bean grading standards—and provides a detailed explanation of the flavor profile and brewing parameters of the Caturra variety from the Huila region, offering coffee enthusiasts comprehensive insight into the region and a reference for tasting. [more…]

Kenyan coffee is world-renowned for its rigorous grading system and distinctive flavor characteristics. This article systematically reviews Kenya's coffee bean size grading system, including the specific standards for common grades such as AA, AB, and PB, while also introducing flavor grading methods like TOP and PLUS. Drawing on Front Street Coffee's roasting and brewing practices, and using Kenyan Asaliya coffee beans as an example, the article explains in detail the flavor performance of AA-grade beans and suggested pour-over parameters, providing coffee enthusiasts with a complete reference from bean selection to tasting. [more…]

Golden Mandheling is a highly representative variety of Indonesian coffee, known for its full-bodied mouthfeel and herbal, piney, and spicy flavors. However, while the market is flooded with products labeled Golden Mandheling, very few are truly certified by PWN. This article starts with the flavor of Front Street Indonesian Mandheling, then explores the origins of Golden Mandheling, PWN's screening standards, and why uniformity is more worthy of attention than bean size. We will also explain the specifications, appearance characteristics, and cupping performance of Front Street PWN Golden Mandheling, helping coffee enthusiasts distinguish authentic products and find a Mandheling coffee that truly meets their expectations. [more…]

Although Tanzanian coffee is not as famous as that of its neighbor Kenya, it has earned the reputation of the "gentleman of coffee" with its full body and soft acidity, and the Kilimanjaro region is a representative of specialty African beans. This article systematically sorts out the historical origins and grading system of Tanzanian coffee, explains in detail the specific particle size classification standards of AA, AB, PB, and C grades, and, starting from cupping and pour-over experience, presents the complete quality control process of Front Street Kilimanjaro AA washed beans from baking curve confirmation to flavor delivery, helping you understand the causes of citrus and berry notes and the honey-tea-like sweet aftertaste, and evaluate the price positioning and purchasing logic of different grades. [more…]

Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee producer and the largest exporter of Arabica coffee beans. Its geographic proximity to Brazil and Panama has closely linked it to high-quality coffee. Three branches of the Cordillera mountains run north to south, and the high altitudes and volcanic ash soil give rise to coffee with unique flavors. This article will guide you through the differences between Colombia's commercial and specialty coffee regions, help you master green bean grading standards, avoid purchasing pitfalls, and get to know the fruity aroma, chocolatey sweetness, and caramel finish of Front Street Colombia coffee. [more…]

Colombia is a globally renowned coffee-producing country, and Supremo in its grading system is often mistakenly regarded as synonymous with specialty coffee. From the perspective of Front Street Coffee, this article systematically reviews the cultivation history, producing regions, grading standards, and processing methods of Colombian coffee, provides an in-depth analysis of the true relationship between Supremo and Excelso, and introduces one by one the terroir characteristics of well-known micro-regions such as Cauca, Huila, and Nariño. Whether you are a beginner just getting into single-origin coffee or a seasoned drinker looking for everyday beans, you can gain clear regional understanding and purchasing references from it. [more…]

Located in East Africa, Tanzania is blessed with the superior natural conditions of the Kilimanjaro volcanic region, which nurtures Arabica coffee of outstanding quality. This article focuses on Front Street's Tanzania Kilimanjaro AA coffee beans, providing a detailed introduction to the growing region's environment, the characteristics of the Typica variety, the washed processing method, and Tanzania's coffee grading standards. Front Street will also share the recommended pour-over parameters for this AA-grade coffee and its final cupping flavors, including berry, citrus, nutty notes and a honey-like finish, offering coffee lovers a complete reference on origin and brewing. [more…]