Score 88+ Grands Crus

88+ SCA Score Coffee at Terres de Café

The SCA coffee score is used to assess the sensory quality of a coffee according to several criteria, including aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, uniformity and cleanliness. At Terres de Café, our 88+ score coffees represent some of the highest-scoring coffees in our range.

These Grand Cru coffees are often sourced from particularly distinctive terroirs, micro-lots or carefully separated harvests. They receive the same rigorous selection and artisanal roasting carried out in the Paris region as the rest of our range, with detailed traceability by country, region and, whenever possible, individual farm or producer.

How to Choose an 88+ Score Coffee

Choosing the right 88+ specialty coffee depends primarily on the flavour profile you enjoy and the story behind each lot.

• Old Yeti Organic: a separately harvested lot from century-old coffee trees in the village of Yeti, in Ethiopia's Wallaga region – part of the first sourcing project developed by our founder Christophe Servell. Expect notes of caramelised almonds, cardamom, apricot jam and milk chocolate.
• KSF Honey Organic: an Heirloom Honey lot from Khalid Shifa's farm in the Limmu region of Ethiopia, one of our Ethiopian partners since 2019. It offers notes of Darjeeling black tea, mango candy, jasmine and cardamom.
• KSF Old Trees Organic: a selection from coffee trees more than sixty years old, planted by Khalid Shifa's father and separated from the rest of the harvest. Expect notes of almond butter, dark chocolate, cardamom and orange zest.
• Yirgacheffe Banko Gotiti: a standout lot selected during our most recent sourcing campaign in the Yirgacheffe terroir, grown in a complex agroforestry system. Expect notes of bergamot, nectarine, white grape and black tea.

These four coffees share one notable characteristic: they all come from Ethiopia, a country whose diversity of micro-terroirs, heirloom varieties and long-established coffee trees regularly produces some of the most distinctive coffees in our selection.

88+ vs 80+ and 85+ Coffee Scores: What's the Difference?

The SCA score provides an overall assessment of a coffee's sensory quality. A higher score reflects a stronger evaluation across the criteria assessed during professional tasting.

At Terres de Café, our 80+ coffees offer an accessible introduction to specialty coffee and excellent value for money. Our 85+ exceptional coffees explore more distinctive and complex sensory profiles, while our 88+ Grand Cru coffees represent some of the highest-scoring coffees in our range.

Many of our 88+ coffees may also come from smaller or more distinctive lots, but rarity and production volume are separate from the sensory score itself.

88+ Whole Bean or Ground Coffee: Which Format Should You Choose?

Whole bean coffee generally retains its aromatic qualities for longer than pre-ground coffee because grinding increases the surface area exposed to oxygen, accelerating oxidation and the evolution of volatile aromas.

For an 88+ Grand Cru coffee, grinding only the amount you need immediately before brewing gives you greater control over freshness and grind size.

Ground coffee remains a convenient option if you do not have a grinder. Our whole bean and ground coffee selections both include coffees from our 88+ score range, with grind options adapted to different brewing methods.

How to Store 88+ Grand Cru Coffee

To preserve the aromatic qualities of your 88+ specialty coffee, keep it away from light, heat, moisture and significant temperature fluctuations.

Store your coffee in its original resealable bag or a suitable airtight container at a stable room temperature. For everyday storage, a cool, dry cupboard is generally preferable to the refrigerator, where repeated exposure to moisture and temperature changes can affect the coffee.

If you buy whole bean coffee, grind only the amount you need immediately before brewing to help preserve its aromatic qualities.

FAQ About 88+ SCA Score Coffee

What Is the Difference Between an 88+ and an 85+ Score Coffee?

Both belong to the world of specialty coffee. An 88+ coffee receives a higher overall sensory evaluation across criteria such as aroma, flavour, acidity, body, aftertaste and balance.

At Terres de Café, our 88+ range also includes some particularly distinctive lots, often sourced from micro-terroirs, older coffee trees or carefully separated harvests.

Why Do Many of Your 88+ Coffees Come from Ethiopia?

Ethiopia offers extraordinary diversity in terms of coffee genetics, terroirs and growing environments. Many regions also contain long-established coffee trees and complex agroforestry or forest-based systems capable of producing highly distinctive sensory profiles.

This is not a universal rule, but our current 88+ selection reflects the exceptional diversity of the Ethiopian coffees we source.

How Is a Coffee Score Calculated?

Coffee is professionally tasted and evaluated according to a standardised sensory protocol. Different aspects of the cup are assessed, including aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, uniformity and cleanliness, contributing to the coffee's overall score.

Are 88+ Coffees Available as Whole Bean and Ground Coffee?

Yes. Our 88+ score coffees are available across our whole bean and ground coffee selections, with different grind options available for ground coffee depending on your chosen brewing method.