Hawaii Coffee Association
Grading Standards for Hawai'i Green Coffee
State of Hawai'i Department of Agriculture certified grades for green coffee. All certified lots offer traceability and attest to the quality of the coffee held within.
| Grade | Screen Size | Max Defects per 300g |
Moisture | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Fancy Top grade | Type 1 – 19 Type 2 – 13 |
8 | 9 – 12% | Uniform, green |
| Fancy | Type 1 – 18 Type 2 – 12 |
12 | 9 – 12% | Uniform, green |
| Number 1 | Type 1 – 16 Type 2 – 10 |
18 | 9 – 12% | Uniform, green |
| Select | Optional (may be specified) |
5% | 9 – 12% | — |
| Prime | Optional (may be specified) |
20%**** | 9 – 12% | — |
| Hawai'i No. 3*** | — | 35% | 9 – 12% | — |
| Off Grade Quality lower than Hawai'i No. 3. Use of the term "Hawai'i" in conjunction with the term "Off Grade" is prohibited. | ||||
Notes & footnotes
*Tolerance for Type 2 beans is 10% by weight. No more than 3% other sizes.
**Defects are scored as either full imperfections or less than full imperfections, per 300 grams. Less than full imperfections are scored as 1/5 of a full imperfection. A bean affected by less than 2 pinholes by insect damage shall be scored as 1/10 full imperfection.
***Use of the terms "Hāmākua," "Ka'ū," "Kaua'i," "Kona," "Maui," "Moloka'i," or "O'ahu" in conjunction with the term "No. 3" or "Off Grade" is prohibited.
****Defect tolerance of 20% defective beans by weight applies. Beginning July 1, 2017, the defect tolerance is 15% defective beans by weight.
For a complete written description of Hawai'i's green coffee standards, please refer to HAR Chapter 4-143.