The green coffee beans classification standard provided by the SCAA is an excellent method to compare coffee beans. It is superior over some systems in that it better accounts for the relationship between the defective coffee beans and the cup quality.

#1) Specialty Grade Green Coffee : Specialty green coffee beans have no more than 5 full defects in 300 grams of coffee. No primary defects are allowed. A maximum of 5% above or below screen size indicated is tolerated. Specialty coffee m ust possess at least one distinctive attribute in the body, flavor, aroma, or acidity. Must be free of faults and taints. No quakers are permitted. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

#2) Premium Coffee Grade : Premium coffee must have no more than 8 full defects in 300 grams. Primary defects are permitted. A maximum of 5% above or below screen size indicated is tolerated. Must possess at least one distinctive attribute in the body, flavor, aroma, or acidity. Must be free of faults and may contain only 3 quakers. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

#3) Exchange Coffee Grade : Exchange grade coffee must have no more than 9-23 full defects in 300 grams. It must be 50% by weight above screen size 15 with no more than 5% of screen size below 14. No cup faults are permitted and a maximum of 5 quakers are allowed. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

#4) Below Standard Coffee Grade : 24-86 defects in 300 grams.

#5) Off Grade Coffee : More than 86 defects in 300 grams.

Don Marcos 2011 Summer Roast is 100% SPECIALTY GRADE COFFEE. This is the highest quality possible!