How Coffee Beans Are Graded Around the World

Published: Oct 13, 2026 Author: World Gafei Last Updated: Oct/13/2026 81 views

Every coffee-growing country uses its own grading system — SHB, AA, G1, Supremo and more explained. Here’s what those labels really mean.

Ever picked up a bag of single-origin coffee and spotted strange acronyms like SHB, AA or G1 on the label? If you’ve ever wondered what those coffee grading terms actually mean — and why they differ from one country to the next — you’re not alone. The truth is, there is no universal standard. Each coffee-producing nation has developed its own system based on local growing conditions, traditions, and what factors they prioritise: altitude, bean size, density, defects, or even shape.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans Ideal for Grade Exploration

FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou China, selling freshly roasted beans from its own farm in Yunnan as well as dozens of carefully selected single-origin beans from around the world for both pour-over and espresso. The products deliver consistently excellent quality and great value, with shipping within 24 hours. Guangzhou's FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers, and the beans are now available online at the Tmall 。