Uganda – SCR 15

Origin: Central Lowlands and Lake Victoria Basin

Profile: Bold, Pungent, and Economical

Uganda SCR 15 is the quintessential “blender’s bean.” While the Screen 18 represents the jumbo size, the Screen 15 consists of smaller, more compact beans. In the Robusta world, smaller beans are often incredibly dense, packing a significant caffeine punch and a very concentrated, “toasty” flavor profile.

This grade is almost exclusively Natural Processed, meaning the cherries are dried in the sun on large patios or raised beds. This method imparts a rustic, earthy sweetness that has become the signature of Ugandan coffee exports.

Flavour Experience

Body: Very heavy and “gritty” (in a desirable, textured way).
Notes: Strong baker’s cocoa, charred cedar, and toasted grain (reminiscent of dark rye bread).
Acidity: None. It is purely focused on the low-end, savory spectrum.
Finish: Long, intense, and smoky with a persistent dark chocolate bitterness.

Best Enjoyed As

Screen 15 is highly valued for its cost-to-performance ratio in commercial settings:

Production Blending: It is the ideal “filler” for high-volume ground coffee products where you need to maintain a “strong” flavor profile while keeping price points competitive.
Vending & Instant Coffee: Because of its high soluble solids and intense flavor, it performs exceptionally well in automated extraction systems.
The “Italian Style” Base: When roasted dark, it provides the bitter “bite” and caffeine kick traditional espresso drinkers crave.

The Roaster’s Perspective: Screen 15 Challenges

Because these beans are smaller, they have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio than the SCR 18.

Roast Speed: They will take on heat much faster. Roasters must be careful not to “flash” the beans (burning the outside before the inside is developed).
Airflow: In drum roasters, smaller beans can sometimes restrict airflow more than larger beans, requiring a slightly different fan setting to ensure a clean, smoke-free flavor.

Uganda Robusta Grade Comparison

Feature	Uganda SCR 18	Uganda SCR 15
Appearance	Large, bold, uniform.	Small, rustic, variable.
Caffeine Impact	High.	Very High (Concentrated).
Primary Use	Premium Espresso Blends.	Commercial Drip / Value Blends.
Price Point	Premium.	Economical / High Value.