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Kenya Grading System: Understanding Coffee Bean Classification
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks worldwide, and its delicious taste is a result of the careful processes involved in growing, processing, and grading the beans. In Kenya, we use a special grading system, a policy by law , and a Kenya Auction requirement to sell green coffee.
This system plays a crucial role in the coffee industry by categorizing beans based on their size, density, and specific characteristics, which in turn influences both quality and market value. The grading system ensures consistency and excellence in this competitive landscape, facilitating trade agreements and enabling informed purchasing decisions. By maintaining stringent quality standards, the system exemplifies Kenya's commitment to producing exceptional coffee, making it essential for both coffee enthusiasts and traders to understand its nuances to appreciate the richness and diversity of Kenyan coffee.
Screen Size Grades
Primary Grades
| Grade | Name / Meaning | Screen Size | Cup Quality Notes |
| AA | Largest Beans | Screen 18 (7.2 mm) | Highest value grade, top flavor clarity & acidity |
| AB | Combined A & B sizes | Screens 15–17 | Most common export grade, excellent balance |
| PB | Peaberry | Rounded beans (not screen-based) | Intense flavor; often separated as a specialty |
| C | Small Beans | Screen 14 (5.6 mm) | Lower density than AB |
| E | Elephant Beans | Oversized, mutated | Often separated; mixed cup quality |
| SB | Small Bean | Screens 12–13 | Lower grade but can be sweet & good for blends |
Secondary Grades
| Grade | Name | Description |
| T | Triage | Small, broken beans; includes low screen sizes |
| TT | Thin Beans | Light/low density, often removed by aspirator |
| UG1 | Ungraded 1 | Mixed beans with acceptable defect limits |
| UG2 | Ungraded 2 | Lower quality ungraded beans; more defects vs UG1 |
| HE | Hullings / Hulling Extract | Broken parchment or low-density fragments removed during milling |
- Kenya AA Grade
This is the cream of the crop - large, dense beans over 7.2mm in diameter that are assigned a size of 18. AA grade Kenyan coffees are considered among the finest in the world. They exhibit a bright, lively acidity balanced with a rich, wine-like fruitiness and sweet, floral aromas. The body is typically light yet flavorful.
- Kenya AB Grade
Only slightly smaller than AA at 6.8mm (size 16-17), AB grade still ranks as a premium coffee. It combines both A and B beans, accounting for around 40% of Kenya's crop. While not quite as prized as AA, AB grade offers a similar bright, fruity, complex profile.
- Kenya PB Grade (Peaberry)
These are natural "pearls" - single, rounded beans instead of two flat-sided ones. At size 17, peaberries are dense and concentrated in flavor, accounting for approximately 5% of the crop.
- Kenya E Grade (Elephant Bean)
The largest of all, size 21 and up, these "elephant beans" come from a cherry with conjoined seeds. Their impressive size gives a deeply rich, full-bodied cup.
- Kenya C Grade
Falling in the 12-14 size range, C grade contains the thinner, smaller beans sorted out from AB during grading. Great for blending and usually has a lower acidity.
- Kenya TT Grade
These are beans sorted out for having a lighter density than the premium AA, AB, and E grades. Despite their size of 16-20, their lower density affects the flavor.
- Kenya T Grade
The smallest grade under size 12, T, comprises broken, defective, and thin beans sorted from the C grade.
- Kenya MH/ML Grade (Mbuni)
At the lowest end are Mbuni beans that fell off the plant before they were harvested. They have a distinctly tangy, harsh taste processed by the dry or natural method. MH (Heavy Mbuni) tends to have a higher density and may qualify as a specialty coffee if well-sorted.
- Kenya NH/NL Grade (Natural Process)
This is the latest entry in the Kenya Auction Grading system. It indicates that the coffee underwent natural processing rather than the common wet-wash process used in Kenya.
- Kenya UG1
UG1 stands for "Ungraded 1." This category includes all beans that do not meet the specific criteria for the official grades, such as AA, AB, or C. These beans are a mix of various sizes and qualities that do not conform to the stringent standards of the higher grades.
- Kenya UG2
UG2, or "Ungraded M'buni," refers to ungraded dry-processed (naturally processed) coffee. M'buni is a Swahili term referring to coffee cherries that are dried whole rather than de-pulped before drying. These beans are generally of lower quality compared to wet-processed beans.
- Kenya HE
HE grade includes beans separated from the TT and E grades. These are often considered rejects from the TT and E sorting processes, including fragments and lighter beans that did not meet the quality standards of the TT and E grades.
- SB Grade (Smaller Bean)
SB, or "Smaller Bean," smaller screen size than C grade, typically screens 12–14. These are beans that didn’t make AB or C-size screens. Cup quality can still be surprisingly good, just smaller seeds.
FAQ (Fair Average Quality)
FAQ grade is a term used for coffee that meets the standard quality level for export. This grade includes a mix of beans that do not fit into the more specific grades but still meet an acceptable standard for international trade.