The highest standard of coffee with the least number of defects is classified as “specialty grade” and that is the Purity starting point. Green coffee defects are substandard coffee beans that can occur for a multitude of reasons: Adverse climate conditions, poor agricultural, harvesting and processing practices, and problematic transportation or storage of the coffee. Some of these defects are difficult to avoid, but others can be avoided. Regardless, to get defect-free coffee, most coffee must be sorted, so that whatever defects remain are removed.
For most coffee companies, taste is the main reason for removing certain defects. For Purity, health is the main reason, because some bean defects can lead to microorganisms, toxins like Ochratoxin A, or an uneven roast profile, which can create unwanted PAHs.