How Colombia Grades Its Coffee Beans by Size

When you see a bag of Colombian coffee labeled 'Supremo,' you might assume it’s the best-tasting option. But in Colombia, coffee grading isn’t about flavor profile or processing method—it’s about bean size. That Supremo stamp only tells you the beans are large, not that they’re complex, sweet, or high-scoring. So how does Colombia actually grade its coffee, and what does it mean for your cup?

Colombia grades coffee beans primarily by size, using a simple mesh system. Supremo beans are 18 mesh or larger, while Excelso beans are smaller than 18 mesh. That’s it. Taste, origin, or processing aren’t part of the official grade.

What Does 'Supremo' and 'Excelso' Actually Mean?

In Colombia’s coffee grading system, the terms Supremo and Excelso refer solely to the physical dimensions of the beans. A Supremo bean is 18 mesh or above, which translates to roughly 7 millimeters in diameter. An Excelso bean is smaller, falling under the 18 mesh mark. Mesh here refers to the number of openings per inch on a sieve—18 mesh means 18 openings per inch, with each unit equal to 1/64 of an inch.

How Mesh Size Translates to Millimeters

To understand what these numbers mean in real terms: 1 mesh equals 1/64 of an inch, and 1 inch equals 25.4 millimeters. Therefore, 18 mesh works out to approximately 7 millimeters in diameter. This is the cutoff point—beans at 18 mesh or larger earn the Supremo grade, and anything below is classified as Excelso. It’s a straightforward physical measurement, not a reflection of cup quality.

Why Size-Based Grading Doesn’t Equal Quality

Using bean size as the main grading criterion means that Supremo doesn’t automatically mean superior flavor. In fact, many high-quality, specialty-grade Colombian coffees come from specific regions or farms—often in the southern highlands like Huila—and include detailed information about origin, altitude, and farm. These beans are typically sold with full traceability, not just a grade. If a bag of Colombian coffee lacks specific origin details, it’s likely a commercial-grade lot from the MAM region, graded only by size.

Where Flavor Really Comes From

Colombia’s best coffees are grown in regions such as Huila, where farms sit between 1,500 and 2,300 meters above sea level. Factors like altitude, microclimate, soil richness, and careful processing—like washed or natural methods—have a far greater impact on flavor than bean size. For instance, FrontStreet Coffee’s single-origin offerings from Huila highlight how terroir and variety, such as Caturra, shape the cup, delivering notes of chocolate, caramel, and balanced acidity, rather than relying on a Supremo label.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Supremo mean better tasting coffee?

No, Supremo refers only to bean size (18 mesh or larger, around 7mm), not flavor. A Supremo coffee could taste average or excellent depending on origin, altitude, and processing—not its diameter.

What is the mesh size for Excelso coffee?

Excelso coffee beans are smaller than 18 mesh. That means they don’t meet the minimum diameter of about 7 millimeters used to qualify as Supremo in Colombia’s grading system.

Why does Colombia grade coffee by size?

Colombia’s coffee grading system traditionally uses bean size as a simple, physical measure for sorting. It’s easy to standardize and helps buyers identify uniformity, but it doesn’t assess flavor, aroma, or origin quality.

Are Supremo beans always high quality?

Not necessarily. While larger beans can have certain advantages in roasting uniformity, Supremo is purely a size grade. Many flavorful, high-scoring coffees come from specific regions and farms, and are graded by origin and processing, not size.

Where can I find detailed origin Colombian coffee?

Coffee from Colombia’s premium regions like Huila often includes farm and altitude details on the bag. These are typically specialty coffees, not just labeled by Supremo or Excelso. Look for traceable single origins rather than size-graded commercial lots.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans from Colombia’s Huila

For a taste of Colombia’s high-altitude specialty coffee, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Huila-based beans. Their Colombian Single Origin is a washed Caturra lot grown above 1,500 meters, offering balanced notes of chocolate, caramel, and nuts. For something fruitier, their Sidra and Geisha-inspired lots deliver bright acidity and floral sweetness. All showcase Colombia’s true potential beyond basic size grades. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.