Strictly High Grade Coffee

What Is a Roasting Sample?

A roasting sample is a representative quantity of green coffee prepared for quality evaluation. A typical sample contains about 250–300 grams, although evaluators may request 1 kilogram or 1 pound so that enough coffee remains for repeat tests and reference storage.

Sample roasting helps reveal the coffee’s quality, defects, aroma, flavor, acidity, body, balance, and other valuable characteristics before purchasing or production roasting.

Roast Level for Evaluation

Cupping samples are commonly roasted to a light, even profile that preserves the coffee’s distinctive characteristics. The source recommends a City-style roast corresponding to approximately 75–85 on the Agtron color scale.

A lighter roast keeps subtle flavors and acidity easier to identify. Longer or darker roasting can reduce some origin characteristics while intensifying others:

• Greater sugar caramelization may produce stronger caramel or chocolate-like notes.
• Perceived acidity may decrease.
• Roast-derived flavors may obscure delicate qualities or defects in the green coffee.

Customized Sample Analysis

Samples can also be roasted according to a buyer’s intended production profile. For example, coffees may be evaluated at a Full City profile, around 55–65 on the Agtron scale, when the goal is to compare how different lots perform under a darker roast.

This type of evaluation can examine whether aroma, body, flavor intensity, and balance improve or decline under comparable roasting conditions. It is particularly useful for roasters performing production-oriented quality control.

Understanding SHG

SHG commonly means Strictly High Grown, although the source labels it “Stricly High Grade.” It generally identifies coffee cultivated at relatively high elevations, where slower cherry development can produce denser beans. Exact altitude thresholds and grading terminology vary by producing country, so the designation should be interpreted alongside origin, preparation, physical grading, and cup quality.