Speciality Coffee Glossary

The definition: Acidity in coffee is the bright, tangy, or crisp taste perceived on the palate, influenced by varietal, altitude, processing, and roast.

The definition: Aerobic fermentation is the controlled microbial breakdown of mucilage in coffee cherries or parchment with exposure to oxygen, enhancing flavour complexity and cup clarity.

The definition of Anaerobic Fermentation Coffee is coffee fermented in sealed, low-oxygen environments, allowing controlled microbial activity that can enhance flavor and complexity.

The definition: Coffee balance refers to the harmony between acidity, sweetness, body, and flavour, creating a cup where no single attribute dominates.

An insect that invades the cherry to lay eggs. The berry borer beetle has an immunity to the caffeine. Its points of entry and exit exposes the bean to other damages. The berry borer beetle may kill the seed embryo and introduce off flavors to the cup.

Also knows as BL, B/L, or BOL is a document issued by shipping companies to describe the details of the cargo/container. Its receipt by the buyer often trigger a transfer of funds and enables clearing customs.

Brazil is known for its diversity of coffee styles, ranging from classic chocolatey and nutty profiles to big, expressive naturals. The origin offers a combination of large commercial farms and smaller, quality-oriented producers experimenting with fermentation and selective picking.

The definition of Carbonic Maceration Coffee is coffee processed by fermenting whole cherries in airtight, carbon dioxide-rich tanks, producing unique flavors and enhanced fruit characteristics.

A carga is a traditional weight unit used in Latin American coffee trading, most commonly equal to 125 kilograms of green coffee, though exact weights vary by country.

A secondary defect that may occur during post-harvest processing such as depulping or dry milling.

CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) is a shipping term where the seller arranges and pays for freight and insurance, with responsibility transferring to the buyer once the coffee arrives at the destination port.

The definition of Coffee Aftertaste is the descriptor for flavours and sensations that remain on the palate after swallowing coffee, reflecting its quality and balance.

The definition: Coffee aroma refers to the scent of coffee perceived both before and during brewing, encompassing volatile compounds that contribute to flavour perception and overall cup experience.

Arrival samples are samples drawn from a coffee shipment once it reaches the destination port or warehouse, used to confirm the coffee's condition and quality after transit.

The definition of coffee belt is the equatorial region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn where coffee is grown, spanning Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Body is a coffee descriptor and describes the physical feel or texture of coffee in the mouth.

The definition: A coffee cherry is the fruit of the coffee plant that contains the coffee seeds (beans), harvested when ripe to produce specialty green coffee.

The definition: Coffee density measures the mass of a bean relative to its volume. High-density beans usually indicate slower maturation, optimal ripeness, and potential for higher cup quality.

The definition of coffee descriptors is the vocabulary used to describe flavour, aroma, and texture in specialty coffee tasting and evaluation.

The definition of Coffee Direct Trade is a sourcing approach where buyers work directly with farmers or cooperatives, ensuring transparency, fair pricing, and quality-focused relationships.

Facility for hulling parchement sorting defects thorugh color, density, screen size and bagging for export.

The definition of being a coffee exporter is a company or individual responsible for selling and shipping green coffee from a producing country to buyers abroad, such as roasters or importers. Coffee export is generally highly regulated, both by international trade standards and by country-specific laws.

In Kenya, a "coffee factory" refers to a wet mill or washing station, not an industrial building, where smallholder farmers deliver cherries to be pulped, fermented, washed, and dried.

The definition of a green coffee farm is a farm or estate where coffee plants are cultivated and cherries are harvested to produce unroasted green coffee beans.

The definition of coffee fermentation is the microbial process that breaks down sugars and mucilage on coffee beans to clean the seed and influence flavour during processing.

The definition: Fertilization and pest management in coffee cultivation are critical for plant health and yield, while organic practices emphasize ecological balance, minimal synthetic inputs, and traceable certification.

The definition of Coffee Flowering is the stage when coffee trees produce fragrant white blossoms, signaling the start of cherry development and the upcoming harvest.

The definition of coffee grade is a classification of coffee based on size, density, defects, and quality, guiding specialty coffee evaluation and pricing.

The definition of coffee sorting is the process of separating coffee beans by size, density, or defects to ensure consistent quality in specialty coffee.

The definition: Coffee harvest is the period when ripe cherries are picked from coffee trees, either selectively or by strip harvesting, and prepared for post-harvest processing.

The definition of Coffee harvesting is the process of collecting ripe coffee cherries from the coffee tree.

The definition: The Coffee Life Cycle is the stages of a coffee plant’s growth, from seed germination through fruiting, harvesting, and eventual decline.

Large cylinders that lets dry heated air pass through the parchment to speed up the drying process. In some countries, air humidity is so high that it's impossible to dry without.

The definition of Coffee Microlots is small, carefully managed batches of coffee separated to highlight unique flavors and exceptional quality.

The definition of Coffee Moisture Content is the amount of water remaining in green coffee beans after drying, crucial for storage stability and consistent roasting.

Offer samples are representative samples of an available coffee lot sent to potential buyers to evaluate quality and flavor before deciding whether to purchase.

Coffee origins can be defined as the geographical regions where coffee is grown, each with unique climate, altitude, soil, and cultural practices that influence flavour.

The definition: Coffee packaging refers to the bags and materials used to protect green coffee during storage and transport, balancing barrier performance, cost, sustainability, and handling characteristics.

The definition of coffee parchment is the thin, protective layer that surrounds the coffee seed after the fruit has been removed and the bean has been dried.

The definition of the coffee plant, also called tree is a tropical shrub that grows coffee cherries, whose seeds are roasted to make coffee.

Pre-shipment samples are representative samples of a specific coffee lot sent to buyers for cupping and approval before the full shipment is dispatched.

The definition of coffee price is the cost paid for coffee at origin or for purchase from an importer, reflecting quality, market demand, and sustainability in specialty coffee.

The definition of processing coffee is the post-harvest step that turns freshly picked cherries into dried green coffee. It removes the fruit layers around the seed and dries the beans to a stable moisture level before milling. The method used, such as washed, honey, or natural, strongly influences flavour, quality, and shelf life.‍

The definition of a coffee producer is a farmer or farm operation responsible for growing, harvesting, and often processing coffee cherries for the specialty coffee market.

The definition of Coffee Pruning is the agricultural practice of cutting and shaping coffee trees to maintain plant health, improve yields, and support better cup quality.

The definition: Roast profiling is the controlled application of heat to green coffee, adjusted for bean characteristics and intended brewing method, to maximize flavour clarity, balance, and extraction.

The definition of coffee shipping is the transport of green or roasted coffee from producers or exporters to importers, roasters, or markets, ensuring traceable quality in specialty coffee.

The definition: The coffee supply chain is the journey coffee takes from farm to cup, linking producers, exporters, importers, and roasters in a transparent system.

Refers to a sample generally taken from the field (drying beds or local stock). The type sample is un-sorted and is meant to showcase the potential of a coffee. Some defects are to be expected.

The definition: Coffee varieties are the distinct genetic strains or cultivars of Coffea arabica or Coffea canephora, each with unique traits affecting flavour, yield, disease resistance, and suitability for specific growing conditions.

The definition: Water activity (aw) measures the free moisture in coffee beans, which affects microbial growth, storage stability, and post-harvest quality.

Complexity is a coffee tasting term describing a cup with multiple distinct flavors, aromas, or sensory layers that evolve and shift rather than presenting as flat or one-dimensional.

A variety of coffee that has been deliberately cultivated by selective breeding. These will not usually produce true to type offspring; rather, they are often hybrids or selected mutations and must be propagated with human intervention.

Partial or complete removal of the coffee's mucilage down to the parchment either through fermentation or demucilage machines.

The removal of fruit layers from the parchment coffee usually to produce washed/honey coffee.

The definition of Coffee Dryers is the equipment or structures used to remove moisture from coffee beans after harvest, ensuring proper drying for storage and quality.

A depulping machine that can process coffee cherry using less than a tenth of the water a normal depulper uses.

Ethiopian Commodity Exchange is a marketplace for the nation's traditional agricultural economy.

The definition of Espresso: A concentrated coffee brewed by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under high pressure, producing a small, intense shot with crema.

Central American coffees uses the term EP to indicate screen size (15-18), in addition to SHB or SHG to refer to the highest grade of coffee based solely on elevation.

The definition of experimental coffee is coffee produced using innovative varieties, processing methods, or fermentation techniques to explore new flavours in specialty coffee.

Price paid to the farmer which is not to be confused with price paid to the producer.

The definition: Coffee flavour refers to the complex combination of taste and aroma experienced in the cup, shaped by varietal, terroir, processing, and roasting.

The definition of the flavour wheel is a standardized tool used in specialty coffee to identify and categorize flavour descriptors during tasting and cupping.

The pre-processing step responsible for sorting out lower quality cherry before depulping, fermenting, and/or drying.

Free on board. The seller must deliver the coffee onto the ship at the port in the port of loading. The buyer agrees to book and pay for shipping, insurance, and any customs, and overland freight costs incurred on arrival to the port of destination

In Ethiopia, coffee is graded from G1-G5 where G1 is the highest quality on the market and G5 represents commercial coffee.

The definition of Coffee Beans is the seeds found inside coffee cherries, harvested from the coffee plant and used to brew coffee.

The definition of an heirloom coffee variety is a traditional, often indigenous coffee cultivar, typically found in Ethiopia, valued for genetic diversity and complex cup profiles.

The definition of Coffee Honey Processing is a coffee processing method where beans are dried with some or all of the mucilage (sticky layer) still attached, influencing sweetness and body.

Jute bags are woven natural-fiber sacks, traditionally 60-69kg, used to store and ship green coffee, prized for their breathability, durability, and biodegradability.

Using letters A, B, C, and T to grade coffee based on size and quality.

A sticky layer that surrounds the coffee bean.

The definition: Natural coffee is a method of processing whole coffee cherries by drying them with pulp and skin intact.

Sample offered to a client with specific volumes and price linked.

Farmers often have to walk long distances to deliver cherry to a buyer. A purchasing point is a place where cherry buyers are set up to collect and pay for cherry.

The definition of roast curves is the graphical representation of temperature over time during coffee roasting, used to control flavour development and consistency.

The definition of roast coffee is green coffee beans that have been roasted to develop flavour, aroma, and body for brewing in specialty coffee.

The definition of SCA score coffee is coffee evaluated using the Specialty Coffee Association’s cupping protocol, resulting in a score that indicates quality for specialty coffee.

The definition of Shade Grown Coffee: Coffee cultivated under a canopy of trees, which protects plants, supports ecosystems, and improves growing conditions.

The definition: These terms describe increasing levels of specificity in where and how a coffee is produced, from country-level origin to a single farm or even a single varietal planted on that farm.

The definition: Smallholder coffee is grown by individual farmers or family-run plots, typically under 5 hectares, whose practices, harvest, and processing are key factors in lot quality and specialty differentiation.

The definition of Quality Coffee is coffee that meets high standards of flavour, consistency, and integrity, shaped by careful production and processing.

Spot sales are immediate coffee transactions involving lots that are already processed, graded, and physically available, as opposed to coffee contracted in advance of harvest.

The definition: Coffee sustainability refers to practices that balance environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability to ensure that coffee production remains resilient and viable over the long term.

The definition: Sweetness in coffee refers to perceived sugar content and palatability in the cup, ranging from subtle fruit-like notes to rich, syrupy sensations.

Coffee is grown in more than 70 countries, but only a handful account for the majority of the global supply.

The definition of transparency in coffee is open, traceable reporting of coffee origins, processing, pricing, and producer relationships in specialty coffee.

Uganda coffee is one of East Africa’s most promising origins. While the country is often associated with home-processed naturals, the specialty sector is growing fast thanks to improved processing, stronger infrastructure, and long-term partnerships between farmers, exporters, and buyers.

The definition: Washed coffee is a processing method where cherries are pulped, fermented, and washed clean before drying.