Ethiopia
Washed GUJI
Oromia, Bensa
Black Tea | Floral | Bergamot
Fully washed · In Stock
Quality Metric
Density
A measure of bean hardness that indicates growing conditions and affects roast behavior. Dense beans typically mean high elevation, complex development, and slower roast profiles.
Definition
What density measures
Density is a measure of how tightly packed the cellular structure is within a coffee bean. It's typically expressed as grams per liter (g/L) or sometimes as bulk density.
Coffee grown at higher elevations matures more slowly, developing denser cellular structure. This correlates with more complex sugars, more organic acids, and ultimately more flavor potential--but also requires adjustments in how you roast.
Density ranges
High density
>700 g/L
Medium density
650-700 g/L
Low density
<650 g/L
Typical Ethiopia
680-750 g/L
Correlation
Higher elevation = denser
Why Roasters Care
What density tells you
Roast profile guidance
Dense beans conduct heat differently. They need more gentle, slower roasts. Rushing a high-density coffee risks underdevelopment or scorching.
Flavor potential
Higher density usually means more complex acids and sugars. There's more to work with if you roast it right.
Elevation proxy
Density confirms elevation claims. If a coffee is listed as 2000+ masl but has low density, something's wrong with the sourcing story.
Our Approach
How we use density data
Quality verification
Density helps confirm origin and elevation claims. Ethiopian highland coffees should show density that matches their growing conditions.
Roast recommendations
We note density on spec sheets so you know how to approach each lot. High density? Consider lower charge temp and longer development.
Lot comparison
When comparing similar coffees, density helps predict which will have more complexity when roasted well.
Storage considerations
Denser beans tend to age more gracefully. Combined with good water activity, high density supports longer shelf life.
Current Inventory
High-density coffees in stock
Ethiopia
Organic Washed Sidama
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Chelba
Floral | Lemongrass | Green Tea | Peach
Washed · In Stock
Ethiopia
WUSH WUSH
Oromia, Hambela
Sangaria | Fruit Bomb | Floral | Sweet Finish
Natural, 120 hours dry Fermentation! · In Stock
Ethiopia
Harrar Gr 1
Oromia, Micheta
Chocolate | Barries | Carmel | Full Body
Natural · In Stock
Ethiopia
NATURAL SIDAMA GR 4
Sidama
Dark Chocolate | Nuts | Medium Acidity | Complex | Comforting
Natural · In Stock
ARDI™
Ethiopia
Natural ARDI
Sidama, Damo
Clean Strawberry | Peach | Sweet Finish
Natural · In Stock
Deep Dive
Density & Screen Size: What They Tell You
How bean density and screen-size distribution predict roast behavior, cup sweetness, and lot uniformity.
Related Terms
More Quality Metrics
Water Activity (aW)
Measure of free moisture. Below 0.60 is stable; above 0.65 risks mold.
Moisture Content
Percentage of water in green coffee. Target 10-12% for stability.
Q Score
Cupping score from a certified Q-grader. 80+ is specialty grade.
Q Grader
Licensed coffee professional certified by CQI to evaluate specialty coffee.
Defects
Physical or sensory flaws that reduce coffee quality and grade.
Screen Size
Bean size measured by round-hole screens. Larger = more uniform roasts.
Want complete spec sheets?
We provide density, moisture, water activity, and cupping scores on every lot.