Traditional Grades of Indian Coffee

As in most countries, India processes coffee by the wet (or washed) and dry (natural or unwashed) methods.

India, however, uses a unique nomenclature for its coffees.  Washed Arabica beans are known in India as “Plantation” (not to be confused with coffee estates), while washed Robusta beans are referred to as “Parchment” (not to be confused with coffee in Pergamino). Natural Arabica and Robusta beans are both known as “Cherry” (not to be confused with the fruit on a coffee tree).

Grade designations are as follows, with the highest grades listed on top.  Note that these grade designations are based primarily on the size of beans (each bean fits into certain sieves during grading).  Some of the top-most grades also have limits on the percentage of imperfections.

Arabica

  • WASHED
    • Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold
    • Plantation-AA
    • Plantation-PB Bold
    • Plantation-PB
    • Plantation-A
    • Plantation-B
    • Plantation-C
    • Plantation-BBB
    • Plantation-Bulk
  • NATURAL/DRY-PROCESSED
    • Cherry-AA
    • Cherry-A
    • Cherry-PB Bold
    • Cherry-PB
    • Cherry-AB
    • Cherry-C
    • Cherry-BBB
    • Cherry-Bulk

Robusta

  • WASHED
    • Robusta Kaapi Royale
    • Parchment-A
    • Parchment-PB Bold
    • Parchment-PB
    • Parchment-AB
    • Parchment-B
    • Parchment-C
    • Parchment-BBB
    • Parchment-Bulk
  • NATURAL/DRY-PROCESSED
    • Cherry-AA
    • Cherry-A
    • Cherry-PB Bold
    • Cherry-PB
    • Cherry-AB
    • Cherry-C
    • Cherry-BBB
    • Cherry-Bulk