Understanding Coffee Bean Labels: Common Abbreviations Explained

Ever picked up a bag of green coffee beans and been baffled by the letters on the label? Beyond the country of origin, those cryptic acronyms—DP, EP, SHB, FTO—can leave even experienced roasters guessing. These codes aren’t just jargon; they tell you how the coffee was processed, sorted, and certified. Knowing what they mean helps you make better buying decisions and understand what’s in the bag before you roast it.

Here’s the quick answer: common coffee bean abbreviations include DP (Dry Process), EP (European Preparation), SHB (Strictly Hard Bean), and FTO (Fair Trade & Organic). Each one refers to a specific processing method, bean grade, or certification. For example, EP means extra hand-sorting for lower defect rates, while SHB indicates high-altitude, dense beans common in Central America.

What Do Coffee Bean Abbreviations Actually Mean?

When you look at a green coffee bean sack, the country name might be clear—but the string of letters often isn’t. These abbreviations are industry shorthand for everything from processing methods to quality grades and certifications. They help roasters and buyers quickly identify key attributes of the beans without reading a full profile. Below is a breakdown of the most common ones you’ll see.

Processing & Preparation Methods

These abbreviations describe how the coffee was processed or sorted after harvest:

• DP — Dry Process: Coffee dried with the fruit still on the bean, common in regions with limited water.
• FW — Fully Washed: Coffee processed by removing the skin and pulp through fermentation and washing, resulting in cleaner flavours.
• PE — Peaberry: A rare mutation where a single rounded bean forms inside the coffee cherry instead of two flat beans. Often associated with unique cup profiles.
• SWP — Swiss Water Process: A chemical-free decaffeination method that uses water to remove caffeine while preserving flavour.

Bean Grading & Preparation Standards

These terms refer to how strictly beans are sorted and graded, often by size, density, and defect count:

• EP — European Preparation: Extra hand sorting to meet stricter European defect tolerance standards, typically below 8–10 full defects per 300g. Common in Central and South America. Note: EP does not indicate bean grade (you’ll see both Costa Rica SHB EP and HB EP).
• AP — American Preparation: Standard US defect tolerance, generally looser than EP.
• JP — Japanese Preparation: Even stricter hand sorting than EP, often for premium markets.
• TP — Triple Picked: Indonesian grade indicating beans that have been hand-sorted three times to remove defects (common in Sumatra and Sulawesi).
• Double Picked — Similar to TP but with two rounds of hand sorting.
• SHB — Strictly Hard Bean: A grade for high-density beans grown at elevations above 1,200–1,350 metres, common in Costa Rica.
• SHG — Strictly High Grown: Similar to SHB, used in Central American countries like Nicaragua to denote high-altitude beans with dense structure.

Certifications & Processing Types

These codes indicate certifications or special processing methods related to sustainability, organic status, or flavour profile:

• FTO — Fair Trade & Organic: Certified both fair trade and organic, ensuring ethical labour practices and no synthetic inputs.
• ORG — Organic: Coffee grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, meeting organic farming standards.
• RFA — Rainforest Alliance: Certification focused on environmental sustainability, worker welfare, and ecosystem protection.
• UTZ — A certification program covering sustainable farming, social responsibility, and good environmental practices, now part of the Rainforest Alliance.

Why These Codes Matter to Roasters and Buyers

Understanding these abbreviations helps you assess the quality, ethical sourcing, and flavour potential of green coffee. For instance, SHB or SHG beans are typically denser and more flavourful due to higher growing altitudes. EP beans have been more rigorously sorted, meaning fewer defects in your roast. FTO and ORG certifications assure socially and environmentally responsible production. These details influence not just roast profiles, but also marketing, pricing, and consumer expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does EP mean on green coffee beans?

EP stands for European Preparation. It means the coffee has been hand-sorted to a stricter defect tolerance standard (typically under 8–10 full defects per 300g), mainly for European buyers. It’s common in Central and South American coffees, such as Costa Rica SHB EP or Costa Rica HB EP. Note: EP refers only to defect sorting, not the coffee grade.

What is the difference between SHB and SHG?

SHB (Strictly Hard Bean) and SHG (Strictly High Grown) both indicate high-altitude-grown, dense coffee beans. SHB is mainly used in Central America (e.g., Costa Rica), while SHG is more common in other Central American countries like Nicaragua. Both suggest better cup quality due to slower bean development at elevation.

What does FTO mean on a coffee bag?

FTO stands for Fair Trade & Organic. It means the coffee is certified both fair trade—ensuring fair wages and labour conditions—and organic, meaning it was grown without synthetic chemicals. This label assures ethical and sustainable production practices.

What is Peaberry coffee?

Peaberry (PE) is a natural mutation where a coffee cherry produces a single round bean instead of the usual two flat beans. These beans often roast differently and can have distinct flavour profiles, sometimes described as more concentrated or intense.

What is the Swiss Water Process?

The Swiss Water Process (SWP) is a chemical-free method for decaffeinating coffee. It uses only water to remove caffeine from green beans while preserving the coffee’s original flavours, making it popular among specialty roasters seeking clean decaf options.

What is Triple Picked coffee?

Triple Picked (TP) is a grade used primarily in Indonesia (like Sumatra), meaning the beans have been hand-sorted three times to remove defects. It’s part of a stricter grading system aimed at delivering cleaner cups from regions known for higher defect rates in their harvests.

FrontStreet Coffee Beans That Highlight Specialty Grade Traits

Explore FrontStreet Coffee’s single origins that embody the qualities associated with high-grade, carefully prepared beans. The FrontStreet Honduras SHG EP features bright citrus and caramel notes, grown at high altitude and sorted to European standards. For something different, try the FrontStreet Ethiopia Yirgacheffe DP, a natural-processed coffee with floral and berry tones, showcasing the complexity of dry-processed beans. Finally, the FrontStreet Colombia Huila SHB offers balanced acidity and chocolatey sweetness, typical of Strictly Hard Bean-grade Colombian coffees. All three demonstrate how processing methods and grading impact flavour. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.