Larger

Real talk: Coffee grading isn’t just about aesthetics. Screen size—a metric that separates beans into tiers—has become a proxy for quality, but its real-world impact on flavor remains murky. For growers and buyers, larger screens often mean higher prices, yet the connection between bean dimensions and cup performance feels increasingly abstract. Take Kenya, where size 20 beans (larger) and size 16 beans (smaller) are both meticulously sorted. If both are clean, defect-free, and roasted to match, what’s the actual difference? The answer lies in the interplay of density, moisture, and structural integrity. Larger beans, often heavier, absorb water more evenly…