Three grades, one preparation
Screens 17, 15 and 12 come from the same natural-process FAQ Robusta; the grading factory separates them by sieve. Screen 15 — beans retained on a 15/64-inch (about 6.0 mm) sieve — is the liquid benchmark grade of the Uganda trade and the one most contracts reference. Screen 17 sits between 15 and 18 and is often sold with 18 as “17/18”. Screen 12 collects the smaller whole beans below 15 and is a soluble and industrial-blend grade. Below Screen 12 comes BHP (broken hand-picked), an industrial grade priced separately.
Who buys these grades
- Traders and importers carry Screen 15 as their reference Uganda Robusta and price 17 and 12 as differentials to it.
- Blenders use Screen 15 and 17 as the Robusta component in commercial espresso and filter blends.
- Soluble and RTD manufacturers — including the large Indian processors who take about six percent of Uganda's exports — work in Screen 15 and 12 for yield and consistency.
- Roasters looking for a good-value Uganda Robusta for a house blend often start with Screen 15.
Container mathematics
A 20 ft container carries 320 bags of 60 kg, or 19.2 tonnes of green coffee. Industrial buyers sometimes take bulk-liner loading (loose beans in a container liner) at around 21 tonnes; ask if you need it. A quote for “one container of Screen 15, FOB Mombasa, shipment March” is the most common enquiry we receive and the fastest to answer.
Harvest and availability
Fresh-crop central-belt Robusta is available for shipment from about December through the first half of the year, with fly-crop and western coffee filling the second half. Multi-container annual programmes are scheduled around these windows. See the harvest calendar.
Price basis
Uganda Robusta is priced as a differential to the London (ICE Europe) Robusta futures contract for a stated shipment month, FOB Mombasa. Your quote states the differential or fixed price, Incoterm, shipment window and payment terms. We do not publish live prices.
Standard specification — Screens 17, 15 and 12
- Screen 17
- Retained on 17/64" (≈ 6.75 mm); 7.2% of Robusta exports Dec 2025; reported export value US$4.47/kg
- Screen 15
- Retained on 15/64" (≈ 5.95 mm); 51.7% of Robusta exports Dec 2025; reported export value US$4.44/kg
- Screen 12
- Retained on 12/64" (≈ 4.76 mm); 12.7% of Robusta exports Dec 2025; reported export value US$4.40/kg
- Process
- Natural: sun-dried cherry, hulled to FAQ, cleaned, screen-graded, density- and colour-sorted
- Moisture
- Maximum 12.5% at export inspection; measured value per lot
- Defects
- Per Uganda export standard for each grade; measured count per 300 g published per lot
- Cup
- Neutral to cocoa, full body, low acidity; suited to blends and soluble
- Packaging
- 60 kg jute, 320 bags per 20 ft container (19.2 t); bulk liner loading on request for industrial buyers
- Incoterms
- FOB Mombasa standard; FCA Kampala, CFR/CIF on request
Shares and values are Uganda's reported export figures for December 2025 (MAAIF export report). They are historical reference points, not our prices.
Current offer list
Available lots in this grade
No lots are published on the site right now. We publish a lot only once it has been graded and a specification exists, so the list is accurate rather than long.
Tell us the grade, quantity and shipment window you are working to and we will reply with what is available or expected from the current harvest.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Screen 15 the most exported Uganda Robusta grade?
Because it is the natural centre of the size distribution of Uganda's hulled Robusta and the grade most international contracts and soluble specifications reference. In December 2025 it accounted for 51.7 percent of Uganda's Robusta exports (MAAIF).
What is the difference between Screen 15 and Screen 12?
Sieve size — Screen 15 beans are retained on a 15/64-inch sieve (about 6.0 mm) and Screen 12 on a 12/64-inch sieve (about 4.8 mm). Screen 12 beans are smaller, roast faster and are used mainly in soluble and industrial blends; the reported export value difference in December 2025 was four cents per kilogram.
Can I buy Screen 17/18 as one grade?
Yes. Many buyers contract “17/18” — a combined grade of beans retained above the 17/64-inch sieve. Tell us whether you need pure Screen 18 or a 17/18 preparation.
Do you supply Robusta for instant coffee manufacturers?
Yes. Screen 15 and Screen 12, and BHP where a lower grade is wanted, are the grades soluble manufacturers specify. Container and multi-container programmes with fixed shipment months are the normal arrangement.
How much coffee is in a 20 ft container?
320 bags of 60 kg, or 19.2 tonnes, for bagged coffee. Bulk-liner loading can carry around 21 tonnes.