Decoding Information on Coffee Packages

13 October 2024

One of the Biggest Paradoxes in Today's Coffee World

On store-bought coffee packages, it can sometimes be difficult to find any information about the coffee. On freshly roasted coffee packages, on the other hand, there can sometimes be so much information that it's overwhelming, making it unclear whether all the terms are truly important.

Today, we will learn how to read coffee packages and understand how to choose freshly roasted coffee to suit your taste.

Variety

The coffee plant has two most popular varieties - Arabica and Robusta. If the package says "blend," it means the package contains a mixture of Arabica and Robusta (usually 90/10, 80/20, etc.). Blends are well-suited for espresso, Turkish coffee, and Moka pots, and they have a higher caffeine content thanks to Robusta.

If it says "blend," it's a mixture of several types of Arabica. The proportions are usually not specified. Blends are suitable for any brewing method and for those looking for a balanced coffee.

"100% Arabica" or "single origin" means the package contains only Arabica – coffee with fruity, floral, or berry notes, high acidity, and low caffeine content.

Country

The package should always indicate the country of origin of the coffee. For blends and blends, several countries may be listed. For example, "100% Arabica Colombia" or "blend 90/10 Ethiopia/Vietnam."

Lot Name, Farm, or Region

For example: "100% Arabica Ethiopia Jimma" means the coffee was grown in Ethiopia in the Jimma region. Such details help understand the origin of the beans.

Processing

Coffee can have different processing methods: washed, natural (dry), anaerobic, or honey.

Washed: coffee with high acidity and a clean taste.
Natural: high sweetness with light fermented notes.
Anaerobic: processed with special bacteria, adding unusual flavor notes.
Honey: a middle ground between washed and natural processing, with a sweet but clean taste.

Altitude

"1200-1600 m" indicates the altitude above sea level at which the coffee was grown. The higher the altitude, the more potential the coffee has, but it's not always a guarantee of quality.

Descriptors

Descriptors are the main flavor notes characteristic of the coffee. For example, for Arabica from Ethiopia, "lemon," "bergamot," and "black tea" are often used.

Body

The body of the coffee describes the tactile sensations during a sip. It can be smooth, syrupy, round, or silky, and it depends on the processing method.

Roast Level

The roast level affects the flavor and brewing method. It can be "espresso," "filter," "omni," or simply "light," "medium," "dark."

Bean Variety

Coffee beans can have different varieties, for example: Typica (Ethiopia), SL-28, SL-34 (Kenya), Caturra (Central America).

Bean Grade

The bean grade indicates its size. In Africa, for instance, it can be AAA (large bean), AA (medium), AB (small).

Bean Selection System

AP (American) allows for up to 23 defective beans per 300 g of coffee, while ER (European) allows only 8 defective beans per 300 g.

Grade

The grade indicates the quality of the bean. A higher grade means fewer defects and a higher price. For example, Gr1 is the highest quality.

Score

The coffee score is determined by professional Q-graders. A score of 80+ indicates a Specialty rank, and 90+ is the highest category, Cup Of Excellence.