What Score Does Robusta Need to Be "Fine" Under CQI?

11. What Score Does Robusta Need to Be "Fine" Under CQI?

Introduction

The number that separates Fine Robusta from everything else is one of the most practical facts a buyer can know — here's the answer, and the nuance behind it.

Why This Matters

Knowing the exact threshold helps buyers evaluate offers accurately and avoid overpaying for coffee marketed as "fine" without meeting the formal bar.

Main Explanation

Under CQI's Fine Robusta protocol, a coffee generally needs to score 80 points or above on the standardized 100-point sensory scale to qualify as Fine Robusta — provided it also passes the accompanying physical requirements around defects, moisture, and bean size.

Some grading frameworks add an intermediate tier: coffee scoring in roughly the mid-to-high 70s may be classified as "Premium Robusta," a step above commodity-grade but not yet meeting the full Fine Robusta bar. Coffee scoring well below that — often cited around 70 points or lower — is typically treated as standard commodity Robusta with no special sensory classification.

It's worth noting that different labs or references may apply slightly different exact boundaries for these mid-tier categories, but the 80-point threshold for Fine Robusta itself is the most consistently cited figure across the industry.

Comparison Table

Real Examples

A lot scoring 79 points might be marketed as "premium" but would not meet the formal 80-point Fine Robusta threshold — a distinction worth clarifying directly with suppliers.

Faq

Is 80 points a hard cutoff for Fine Robusta?

It's the most widely cited threshold, though a lot must also pass physical grading requirements.

What happens to coffee scoring just below 80?

It's often classified as Premium Robusta or a similar mid-tier, depending on the framework used.

Does a score above 90 mean anything special?

It generally indicates exceptional quality within the Fine Robusta category, though there's no separate formal tier above "Fine."

Can scores vary between different testing labs?

Standardized methodology minimizes variation, though some differences can occur between labs.

Should buyers always ask for the exact score, not just the label?

Yes — the exact score and accompanying defect report give a clearer picture than the label alone.

Conclusion

"Fine Robusta" isn't a vague compliment — it corresponds to a specific, verifiable score threshold that buyers can and should confirm directly.

Cta

Want the exact score behind our Fine Robusta claim? OCC provides full documentation, not just the label.

---