Classification of Indian Coffee.
Coffee Arabica (Arabica) and coffee canephora (robusta) are the two principal varieties commercially cultivated in india.
These two varieties are classifies as washed (wet processed) and unwashed (natural / dry processed / cherry) based on the method of estate level processing the coffees are subjected to.
The washed & unwashed arabicas and robustas are broadly classified into 4 categories based on the quality standards and the preference these grades enjoy in the world market.
The categories are :
- Commercial Grades – 25 grades
- Premium Grades – 10 grades
- Specially grades – 7 grades
- Miscellaneous grades – 2 grades
These major categories are further classifies into different grades based on the size of Thebans and percentage of imperfections.
In the Indian system of grading and garbling , the tolerance level for each and every grade is specified and expressed in percentage by weight. Quality specifications for Indian coffee entail that all the grades are totally free from foreign and extraneous matters.
Garbling Standard and Tolerance
Grades | Tolerance | |
{Plantation | Clean garbled | 2% PB |
AA {Arabica Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% PB, 1% Triage |
{ Robusta Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% PB, 1% Triage |
{ Arabica Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% PB, 2% Triage |
A { Robusta Parchment | Clean garbled | 2% PB |
{ Robusta Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% PB, 2% Triage |
{ Plantation | 2% Flats, 2% PB Triage | |
PB{ Arabica Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% Flats, 2% PB Triage |
Bold { Robusta Parchment | Clean garbled | 2% Flats, 2% PB Triage |
{ Robusta Cherry | Clean garbled | 2% Flats, 2% PB Triage |
MNEB (Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold)
Specialty Coffees – Sieve and Quality Specification
Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold - From Arabica Parchment
MNEB is the highest grade of Washed Arabica Coffee, based on very large bean size and virtual absence of visual defects.
The coffees would generally have very sweet aroma, mild chocolaty note, giddy sweetness and sharp acidity.
Screen No. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Retention% | Garbling Status | Tolerance |
19 | 7.50 | 90.0 | Clean Garbled | No tolerance for |
17 | 6.65 | 100.0 | any defects |
RKR (Robusta Kaapi Royale)
RKR is Robusta washed coffee that has no defects. It is the highest grade both in size and quality. This results in full bodied and string coffee.
These coffees do not have the normal rubbery taste that other low grade robustas have hence Blends made of these coffees are known to provide the best espressos.
Screen No. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Retention % | Garbling Status | Tolerance |
17 | 6.7 | 90. | Clean Garbled | No tolerance for |
15 | 6.00 | 100.0 | any defects |
Commercial Grades - Sieve Specifications
Grades | Arabica | Robsuta | ||||||||||
Plantation | Cherry | Parchment | Cherry | |||||||||
Screen no. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Re Tention % | Screen no. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Re Tention % | Screen no. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Re Tention % | Screen no. | Sieve (mm) | Min.Re Tention % | |
AA | 18 17 |
7.10 6.65 |
90.0 100.0 |
18 17 |
7.10 6.65 |
90.0 100.0 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
18 17 |
7.10 6.65 |
90.0 100.0 |
A | - - |
- - |
- - |
17 15 |
6.65 6.00 |
90.0 100.0 |
17 15 |
6.65 6.00 |
90.0 100.0 |
17 15 |
6.65 6.00 |
90.0 100.0 |
PB Bold |
12(Oblong) | 4.75 | 100.0 | 12 | 4.75 | 100.0 | 11 | 4.50 | 100.0 | 11 | 4.50 | 100 |
Monsooned Malabar Coffees
Arabica Un-washed coffees are exposed to the monsoon rain and winds for a period of about three to four months, causing the beans to swell and lose the original acidity, resulting in a unique flavour profile.
These coffee would generally have dense aroma, hint of fruity note, gritty body, bitter walnut tones.
Grades Screen No. Sieve (mm) Min Retention % Garbling Status Tolerance
"Referred By Indian Courtesy Coffee".