What Does Screen Size Mean in Green Coffee Beans?

When sourcing green coffee beans, one of the first specifications buyers often notice is Screen Size. Terms such as Screen 16, Screen 18, or 16/18 are commonly used in coffee trading, but what do they actually mean?

What Is Screen Size?

Screen size refers to the size of the coffee bean, measured using a grading screen with round holes. The number indicates the diameter of the holes in 1/64 of an inch.

• Screen 16 = 16/64 inch (approximately 6.35 mm)

• Screen 18 = 18/64 inch (approximately 7.14 mm)

Coffee beans are sorted by passing them through these screens. Beans that remain on a specific screen are classified according to that size.

Does a Larger Bean Mean Better Coffee?

Not necessarily.

A larger bean often indicates more uniform growth and can provide a more consistent roast. However, cup quality depends on many other factors, including:

• Coffee variety

• Growing altitude

• Soil conditions

• Harvesting practices

• Processing method

• Roasting profile

In specialty coffee, flavor always matters more than bean size alone.

Why Is Screen Size Important?

Uniform bean size helps roasters achieve a more even roast.

If large and small beans are roasted together, the smaller beans may roast too quickly while the larger beans require more time, resulting in inconsistent flavor development.

For this reason, many professional roasters prefer coffee that has been carefully graded by screen size.

Common Screen Sizes in Arabica Coffee

Arabica green coffee is commonly graded as:

• Screen 15

• Screen 16

• Screen 17

• Screen 18

Among these, Screen 16/18 is one of the most widely traded grades because it offers excellent uniformity and roasting consistency.

More Than Just Numbers

Screen size is an important quality specification, but it is only one part of the story.

Exceptional coffee comes from the combination of healthy cultivation, careful harvesting, proper processing, skilled roasting, and attention to every detail throughout the journey from farm to cup.

At Cau Dat Bean, every batch of green coffee is carefully selected to provide consistent quality and reliable performance for roasters around the world.

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