Vietnam Robusta Grade
Comparison Tool
Compare G1 S18, G1 S16, and G2 FAQ side-by-side — specs, price premiums, and best-fit use cases for coffee importers.
Side-by-Side Grade Comparison
Toggle grades to show or hide columns. All grades active by default.
| Specification | G1 S18 Color Sorted | G1 S18 Cleaned | G1 S16 Color Sorted | G1 S16 Cleaned | G2 FAQ Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean size (screen) | S18 — 7.14 mm | S18 — 7.14 mm | S16 — 6.35 mm | S16 — 6.35 mm | Mixed — no spec |
| Retention on screen | ≥ 90% | ≥ 90% | ≥ 90% | ≥ 90% | None |
| Black/broken beans | ≤ 0.2% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 0.2% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 2.0% |
| Broken beans | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 1.0% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 1.0% | ≤ 5.0% |
| Foreign matter | ≤ 0.1% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 0.1% | ≤ 0.5% | ≤ 1.0% |
| Moisture max | ≤ 12.0% | ≤ 12.5% | ≤ 12.0% | ≤ 12.5% | ≤ 12.5% |
| Price premium over ICE | +$250–350/t vs ICE | +$150–250/t vs ICE | +$150–200/t vs ICE | +$80–150/t vs ICE | −$20 to +$50/t vs ICE |
| Best end uses | Soluble/instantPremium espressoSingle-origin blends | Mainstream espressoR&G blendsCapsule coffee | Blends needing defect controlCost-sensitive solubleEspresso base | Standard espresso blendsVolume R&GPrivate label | Lower-tier blendsPrice-driven volumeIndustrial use |
Source: TCVN 4193:2014. Price premiums are indicative market ranges vs ICE London Robusta futures.
Best-Fit Recommendations
Which grade fits your application? Select grades above to filter.
G1 S18
Color Sorted
Soluble manufacturers and specialty blenders requiring the tightest defect control.
G1 S18
Cleaned
Mainstream espresso roasters and capsule brands needing large-bean uniformity without color-sort cost.
G1 S16
Color Sorted
Buyers who need tight defect specs but have smaller-bean size tolerance or tighter budgets.
G1 S16
Cleaned
Price-sensitive buyers prioritising volume over premium spec. Reliable workhorse grade for blends.
G2 FAQ
Standard
Buyers maximising cost efficiency for commodity blends where bean uniformity is not critical.
Price Premium Visualizer
Typical price premium over ICE London (USD/tonne). Scale: $0–$400/t.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between Color Sorted and Cleaned?
Choose Color Sorted when defect tolerance is critical — soluble/instant manufacturers, premium blends, and single-origin applications benefit most. Color Sorted adds an optical sorting pass that achieves roughly half the defect rate: Black ≤ 0.2% vs ≤ 0.5%, Broken ≤ 0.5% vs ≤ 1.0%. The trade-off is a higher price premium of roughly $80–120/t over Cleaned. If your blend specification tolerates ≤ 0.5% black beans, Cleaned delivers equivalent functional value at lower cost.
Does screen size affect cup quality?
For Robusta, screen size primarily affects roast uniformity, not flavour directly. Larger beans (S18) load more evenly on the roasting drum and produce a more consistent roast profile — critical for soluble extraction yield. Flavour differences between S16 and S18 Robusta are marginal in blind cuppings. The defect level (black, broken beans) has far greater impact on cup quality than bean size. Choose screen size based on your roasting equipment and blend uniformity requirements, not flavour expectations.
What is the minimum order for each grade?
GreenTech standard minimum orders are 1 × 20ft container (approximately 18–19 MT) for G1 grades (S18 and S16, Cleaned or Color Sorted). G2 FAQ is available from the same minimum. Sample orders (25–50 kg) are available for all grades prior to contract. Contact us with your target volume and frequency for volume pricing on multi-container or annual contracts.
Vietnam Market Context
Local insights you won't find in the spec sheet
Vietnam Robusta is not a single commodity. Origin province, processing chain, and harvest timing all affect availability, price, and consistency for each grade.
- Origin: Primarily Lam Dong (Đà Lạt highlands, 800–1,500 m). Cooler climate = denser beans = more uniform roast.
- Volume: ~10–15% of total G1 exports. Lowest availability of all grades.
- Supply window: Tightest Nov–Jan (peak harvest demand). Optical sorting adds 2–3 weeks post-harvest lead time.
- Buyer tip: Forward-contract Q4 requirements by August to lock supply before harvest rush.
- Origin: Mainly Dak Lak + Dak Nong. Largest-volume S18 grade.
- Volume: ~25–30% of G1 exports. Available year-round from bonded warehouse stock.
- Liquidity: High — most international soluble buyers specify this grade.
- Buyer tip: Spot availability is reliable March–Sept from post-harvest warehouse stock.
- Origin: Mixed — Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong. No dominant province.
- Volume: Moderate. Good substitute when S18 CS supply tightens.
- Liquidity: Medium — primarily ordered by European espresso blenders.
- Buyer tip: Useful contingency grade if S18 CS premiums spike during harvest.
- Origin: Dak Lak dominant — largest producing province in Vietnam.
- Volume: ~60–70% of all G1 exports. Highest-liquidity grade on the market.
- Price tracking: Basis tracks ICE London most closely of all G1 grades — easiest to hedge.
- Buyer tip: Best choice for price-sensitive volume buyers who need G1 quality certification.
- Origin: Mainly smallholder farmers across all provinces who can't access color-sorter facilities.
- Volume: ~20–25% of total exports — declining as processing infrastructure improves.
- Risk: Highest quality inconsistency lot-to-lot. No screen size guarantee means roast uniformity varies.
- Buyer tip: Request SGS pre-shipment inspection on every lot. Not recommended for quality-sensitive end uses.
Harvest & Procurement Calendar
Need a firm quotation for a specific grade?
GreenTech supplies all grades listed above from Lam Dong and Dak Nong. SGS-inspected. ISO 22000 certified. GACC registered for China-bound shipments.
Request a Quotation
