Colombian export preparations (Excelso, Supremo, EP, UGQ)

Colombia regulates export quality through the Comité Nacional de Cafeteros, enforced by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros. The legal floor is 'Excelso de Exportación', defined by screen size (above 14, half the beans above 15), a defect count on a 500 g sample and a 12% moisture ceiling; a 2016 resolution widened the undersize tolerance from 1.5% to 5% to match Green Coffee Association contract terms. Supremo, EP and UGQ are trade preparations layered on top of Excelso rather than separate legal grades.

Colombia

Grades
5
Defect sample
500g
Screen sizes
4listed
Origins using it
1

The grades

In this atlas's own words
GradeWhat it requires
Excelso de ExportaciónOfficial minimum export quality: large, mainly flat, even beans retained above screen 14 with 1.5% tolerance below (later relaxed to 5%), at least 50% retained on screen 15, carefully milled and selected.
SupremoTrade preparation of beans sized on screen 17 and above; not an FNC legal category but the common 'large bean' export name.
Excelso EP (European Preparation)Trade preparation: screen 15 and up with a stricter defect allowance than the standard Excelso.
Excelso UGQ (Usual Good Quality)Trade preparation: screen 14 and up with the standard defect tolerance; the bulk commercial grade.
CaracolPeaberry preparation: large, medium and small peaberries retained on screen 12, with up to 10% flat beans.

How it is measured

Screen sizes

  • 14 (minimum, Excelso)
  • 15 (EP floor; 50% minimum for Excelso)
  • 17 (Supremo)
  • 12 (Caracol)

Defects per 500 g

Resolución 5 de 2002 allows up to 72 defective beans per 500 g with limits on first-group defects (full and partial black, sour, faded yellow or brown, amber) versus second-group defects (soft, mouldy, discoloured, cut, insect-damaged, over-dried, broken, malformed, immature, crushed, floater, shrivelled). Moisture may not exceed 12%.

Altitude terms

None used.

Other grading systems