How Colombia Grades Excelso Coffee Beans by Screen Size

When you buy a bag of Colombian coffee, you’ve likely seen the word “Excelso” stamped on the sack—but what does it actually mean? Unlike flavor notes, which vary by farm, coffee bean grades are a standardized system that tells you about the physical characteristics of the beans, including size, cleanliness, and defect levels. For Colombian coffee, the Excelso classification is one of the most common and important export grades.

Colombia’s Excelso grade requires that 500g of green coffee contain no more than 24 total defect points, with no more than 5% of beans between 12 and 14 mesh, and at least 50% of the beans over 15 mesh. The maximum allowed defects are 24 points, with specific limits set by the National Coffee Committee (42 defects per 500g) and private exporters (72 defects per 500g).

What Is the Excelso Coffee Grade?

The term “Excelso” is not a flavor profile or a region—it’s Colombia’s most widely used export-grade classification for green coffee beans. Virtually all Colombian coffee exported globally is labeled as Excelso, even if it also falls under other size-based designations like Supremo, UGQ, or EP. The “Excelso-Café de Colombia” marking appears on sacks regardless of bean size, signifying that the beans meet Colombia’s national export quality thresholds.

Excelso coffee must be fully mature, pest-free, uniformly colored, and have a moisture content not exceeding 12.5%. Most importantly, it must meet strict screen size and defect criteria to qualify for export under this grade.

How Defects Are Scored in Colombian Coffee

Colombia’s National Coffee Committee uses a defect scoring system to determine grade eligibility. Defects are divided into two categories: primary (more severe) and secondary (less severe). Each type contributes a different number of points toward the total allowable defect limit.

For example, the popular Supremo 12*60 (5%) grade allows a maximum of 12 primary defects and 60 secondary defects per 500g sample—adding up to a total defect score that stays within the acceptable range. These defects might include broken beans, black beans, insect damage, sour beans, or husk fragments. The lower the total defect score, the higher the perceived quality and consistency of the lot.

Mesh Size and Screen Classification for Excelso Coffee

Coffee bean size is graded using mesh screens with numbered holes. The mesh number refers to the number of openings per linear inch—so a higher mesh number means smaller holes and larger beans that can pass through. Screens are used to separate beans by size, which correlates with bean density and often, but not always, with cup quality.

The FNC (Colombian Coffee Growers Federation) primarily exports three Excelso size categories, all using a 12×60 sieve test:

• Excelso UGQ 12×60 (1.5%): Minimum 14 mesh, up to 1.5% of beans may be between 12 and 14 mesh, but all must be over 12 mesh. At least 50% of beans must be larger than 15 mesh.
• Excelso EP 12×60 (10%): “European Preparation”—all beans must be over 14 mesh, with up to 10% allowed below 15 mesh.
• Excelso Supremo 12×60 (5%): All beans must be over 14 mesh, with up to 5% allowed below 17 mesh.

Additional size designations in Colombia include Extra (16 mesh and above), Premium (18 mesh and above), and Minama (nearly all beans at 15 mesh). Coffee that doesn’t meet Excelso standards is labeled “Product of Colombia,” typically used in commercial or soluble coffee production.

Each farmer’s lots are registered with unique tracking numbers, supporting traceability. Export names usually follow the format: Country + Region + Grade + Details. For example, FrontStreet Coffee’s Huila offering is labeled “Colombia Huila Supremo SC17/18 FNC.”

How Colombian Coffee Is Processed and Roasted

Colombia’s high-altitude regions and abundant water resources make washed processing the norm. Many smallholder farms use eco-friendly pulpers like the Ecomill or Eco-Pulper, which remove coffee cherry skins and most pulp using minimal water. The remaining mucilage is fermented overnight in small tanks or containers—often simple tiled basins—before being rinsed and sun-dried to the target moisture level. This method significantly reduces defect rates and preserves clean, bright flavors.

To highlight classic profiles like chocolate, nuts, and caramel, FrontStreet Coffee uses a medium-dark roast for its Huila offerings. Roasting to this level improves bean porosity and water absorption. To avoid over-extraction, a medium grind size, 90°C water, and a 1:15 brew ratio are used with a KONO filter. Here’s the exact method:

• Grind: 20-number standard sieve, 75% passing rate (medium grind)
• Water: 90°C
• Brew ratio: 1:15, 15g coffee
• Method: KONO filter, 3-pour method
• Steps: Bloom with double the coffee weight (30g water) for 30s; pour to 125g, wait for drawdown; pour to 225g, finish brew in ~2 minutes.

The resulting cup offers notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel, with a smooth, clean body and gentle acidity as it cools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum allowed defect score for Excelso coffee?

The total defect score for Excelso coffee must not exceed 24 points per 500g. The National Coffee Committee allows up to 42 defects, while private exporters permit up to 72 defects in a 500g sample. Defects are categorized into primary and secondary types, each with different point values.

What does the “12×60” mean in Excelso classifications?

“12×60” refers to the sieve test used to classify Colombian coffee beans by size. It indicates the testing methodology involving a specific screen size, where beans are sorted based on their ability to pass through sieves with 12 and 60-sized openings. It is part of the standard grading process for determining mesh distribution.

What is the minimum mesh size for Excelso coffee beans?

At least 50% of Excelso coffee beans must be larger than 15 mesh. Generally, no more than 5% of the beans can fall between 12 and 14 mesh, and all beans must be larger than 12 mesh. Different Excelso subcategories like UGQ, EP, and Supremo have slightly varying size allowances.

How is Colombian coffee typically processed?

Most Colombian coffee is processed using the washed (wet) method. Coffee cherries are depulped with minimal water using eco pulpers, then fermented overnight to remove mucilage before being washed and sun-dried. This method lowers defect rates and enhances cup clarity.

What does the Excelso grade tell you about coffee flavor?

Excelso is a physical grade based on bean size, cleanliness, and defect count—not flavor. However, because it ensures uniform size and low defects, it often produces more consistent extractions and cleaner cups, especially when combined with careful roasting and brewing.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans from Huila

FrontStreet Coffee’s Colombia Huila Supremo is a washed-process coffee grown at altitude in Colombia’s famed Huila region. It features notes of chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel, with a balanced body and clean acidity. Ideal for showcasing the qualities of Excelso-graded beans, it’s roasted medium-dark to enhance sweetness and mouthfeel. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.