Coffee trade guides
Practical guides for coffee producers, exporters and buyers. Every number and rule links to the official source it comes from.
What Coffee Parchment is, who it is for and how to buy and sell, in 3 pages. Print it or share it on WhatsApp.
Parchment coffee (café pergamino): what it is, its price and how to sell it
What parchment coffee is, how cherry becomes parchment and then green coffee, how parchment is priced per kilo, and where to sell or buy parchment coffee.
Read the guide →How green coffee is graded: Kenya AA, Ethiopia Grade 1, Supremo, SHB
What Kenya AA and AB, Ethiopia Grade 1 to 5, Colombia Supremo and Excelso, and Central American SHB mean, with the official definitions behind each grade.
Read the guide →How to export green coffee from Kenya: licences, auction and direct sales
Kenya's Coffee Act, 2026 explained for exporters and buyers: licences, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange auction, direct sales and the documents needed to ship.
Read the guide →How to buy green coffee directly from origin: samples, contracts, Incoterms, payment
A step-by-step guide for roasters and importers buying green coffee direct from producers: samples, standard contracts, FOB and FCA, payment and shipping.
Read the guide →EUDR explained for coffee producers and buyers
The EU Deforestation Regulation for coffee: dates (30 December 2026), plot geolocation, who files what, country risk levels and what producers should prepare.
Read the guide →Coffee harvest calendar by country
When coffee is harvested in Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Vietnam and other origins, with main and fly crops and the official sources behind each date.
Read the guide →Coffee price today: how coffee prices work (ICE "C", robusta, per kg)
Where to check today's coffee price (ICE, ICO, FNC) and how it is built: arabica and robusta futures, differentials, and price per lb, per kg and per bag.
Read the guide →Avoiding scams in the coffee trade
The scams that hit coffee buyers and sellers, the red flags, and how to check licences, documents, bank details and samples before money moves.
Read the guide →Coffee cupping scores explained: 80+ specialty, 85, 90 and the SCA's new CVA
What an 80, 85 or 90-point coffee score means, how specialty grade is defined, and how the SCA's 2024 Coffee Value Assessment changes cupping.
Read the guide →Washed, natural and honey coffee: processing methods explained
How washed, natural, honey and pulped natural coffee are processed, how each affects flavour and risk, and what to ask a seller about drying and moisture.
Read the guide →How to buy and export coffee from Uganda: robusta, Bugisu arabica, grades and rules
Uganda coffee for buyers and exporters: production, regions, robusta and arabica grades such as Screen 18 and Bugisu AA, and the 2024 change from UCDA to the ministry.
Read the guide →How to buy and export coffee from Ethiopia: ECX, direct trade, ECTA rules and regions
Ethiopian coffee for buyers and exporters: production, regions, the ECX and direct export channels, ECTA's minimum export price and contract registration.
Read the guide →Robusta coffee explained: producers, grades, fine robusta and how it is priced
What robusta is, where it grows, how it differs from arabica, what fine robusta and Q Robusta mean, and how robusta is traded and priced.
Read the guide →Shipping green coffee: bag sizes, container loads, liners and documents
How green coffee is packed and shipped: bag weights by origin, how many bags fit in a 20-foot container, bulk liners, GrainPro, condensation and export documents.
Read the guide →How to buy and export coffee from Tanzania: auctions, direct export, regions and grades
Tanzanian coffee for buyers and exporters: production, arabica and robusta regions, the Moshi auction, direct export registered with the Tanzania Coffee Board, and timing.
Read the guide →How to buy and export coffee from Rwanda: washing stations, NAEB, timing and quality
Rwandan coffee for buyers and exporters: fully washed specialty, washing stations, NAEB's role and cherry price, the end of zoning, harvest and shipping timing.
Read the guide →Coffee certifications explained: Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic
What Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic certification mean for coffee, the Fairtrade minimum price and premium, and what buyers and producers should check.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Brazil: arabica, conilon, regions and what to check
Brazil coffee for buyers and sellers: production of arabica and robusta (conilon), the main states, natural and pulped natural processing, exports and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Vietnam: robusta, the Central Highlands and EUDR
Vietnam coffee for buyers and sellers: the world's largest robusta producer, the Central Highlands, arabica from Da Lat and Son La, exports, grades and EUDR traceability.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Colombia: two harvests, Excelso and Supremo, and the FNC
Colombian coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, regions, the main crop and mitaca, Excelso and Supremo grades, the FNC's role and exporter register.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Indonesia: Sumatra, wet-hulled arabica and robusta
Indonesian coffee for buyers and sellers: robusta from southern Sumatra, wet-hulled arabica from Aceh and North Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Bali, harvests and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Honduras: Central America's largest producer
Honduran coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, highland regions, SHG grades, certified and specialty coffee, IHCAFE's role and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Peru: organic leader, cooperatives and regions
Peruvian coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, regions, organic and Fairtrade cooperatives, rust and EUDR challenges, and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Guatemala: SHB arabica, volcanic regions and exports
Guatemalan coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, Antigua, Huehuetenango, Atitlán and other regions, SHB grades, Anacafé and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from India: shade-grown arabica, robusta and Monsooned Malabar
Indian coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, plantation, parchment and cherry types, Monsooned Malabar and instant coffee.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Mexico: Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca and organic coffee
Mexican coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, the main states, shade-grown and organic coffee, the US market and buying tips.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into the United States: FDA, customs and tariffs
Importing green coffee into the US: FDA prior notice and facility registration, customs entry, ISF, bonds and fees, duty-free status and the 2025 tariff changes.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into the EU: duties, EUDR, food safety and organic
Importing green coffee into the European Union: zero duty on green coffee, EORI and customs, food safety rules, organic Certificates of Inspection and the EUDR dates.
Read the guide →Exporting coffee to China: zero tariffs for Africa, market access and tips
Selling green coffee to China: zero-tariff treatment for least developed and African countries, phytosanitary market access from July 2026, and practical tips for exporters.
Read the guide →Exporting coffee to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: demand, rules and tips
Selling green coffee to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf: market size, Ethiopia's lead, light-roast Saudi coffee, phytosanitary rules and tips for exporters.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into Japan: tariffs, food notification and pesticide limits
Importing green coffee into Japan: duty-free green beans, roasted coffee tariffs, the Food Sanitation Act import notification, pesticide residue limits and tips for exporters.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into South Korea: tariffs, facility registration and plant health
Importing green coffee into South Korea: tariff rates and FTAs, MFDS foreign food facility registration, phytosanitary certificates, import volumes and tips for exporters.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Burundi: washing stations, Bourbon and what to check
Burundi coffee for buyers and sellers: volumes, regions, the April–July harvest, washing stations and cherry grades, ODECA's role, export routes and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Costa Rica: micro-mills, honey process and SHB
Costa Rican coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, regions, harvest, SHB grades, honey processing, ICAFE's role, EUDR and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from El Salvador: Bourbon, Pacamara and altitude grades
Salvadoran coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, the six growing ranges, SHG/HG/CS grades, Bourbon and Pacamara, harvest, the coffee council and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Nicaragua: Jinotega, Matagalpa and SHG arabica
Nicaraguan coffee for buyers and sellers: production and exports, northern regions, SHG and HG grades, shade-grown and organic coffee, the export renovation fee and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Papua New Guinea: smallholder highland arabica and the new grades
Papua New Guinea coffee for buyers and sellers: exports, highland provinces, smallholder gardens, the harvest, CIC's grades (A, B, Y), export rules and buying tips.
Read the guide →Buying coffee from Yemen: ancient naturals, qishr and the risks to check
Yemeni coffee for buyers and sellers: production, terraced regions, natural processing, qishr, Saudi Arabia as top buyer, conflict, shipping and sanctions checks.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into the UK: tariffs, plant health and deforestation rules
Importing green coffee into the United Kingdom: zero duty on green coffee, 6% on roasted, DCTS preferences, plant health checks, IPAFFS and the planned forest risk commodities rules.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into Canada: tariffs, SFC licence and CFIA checks
Importing green coffee into Canada: duty-free green and roasted coffee, the Safe Food for Canadians licence, CFIA's AIRS tool, border declarations and the main supplying countries.
Read the guide →How to import green coffee into Australia: tariffs, biosecurity and inspections
Importing green coffee into Australia: duty-free coffee, BICON import conditions, biosecurity inspection, bulk container rules and the main supplying countries.
Read the guide →How to list your coffee on Coffee Parchment in 3 minutes
Step-by-step guide for farmers, cooperatives, washing stations and exporters: create a free account, list cherry, parchment or green coffee with photos, and get offers from buyers worldwide.
Read the guide →How to buy coffee on Coffee Parchment: lots, samples, offers and requests
Step-by-step guide for roasters, importers and traders: find coffee lots by origin, ask for samples, make offers, post a buyer request and trade safely with producers.
Read the guide →How to sell and export tea from Kenya: licences, the Mombasa auction and direct sales
How Kenyan tea is sold: grower and factory registration, Tea Board of Kenya licences, the weekly Mombasa auction, direct sales of orthodox and specialty tea, and payment rules.
Read the guide →Tea grades explained: CTC (BP1, PF1, PD, D1) and orthodox (OP, FOP, BOP), and how auctions set prices
What tea grades like BP1, PF1, PD, Dust 1, OP and FOP mean, how CTC and orthodox tea differ, and how the Mombasa, Colombo and Indian auctions price tea.
Read the guide →How to buy and export cocoa beans: Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and free markets
How cocoa beans are bought and exported: COCOBOD and the Cocoa Marketing Company in Ghana, the Conseil du Café-Cacao in Côte d'Ivoire, and direct trade in Ecuador, Nigeria and other origins.
Read the guide →Cocoa bean quality: cut test, bean count, Grade I and fine flavour
How cocoa beans are graded: the cut test for mouldy, slaty and insect-damaged beans, bean count per 100 g, moisture, ISO 2451, and what makes fine-flavour cocoa.
Read the guide →How to buy and export raw cashew nuts: Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania and West Africa
How raw cashew nuts (RCN) are traded: season timing, Côte d'Ivoire's farmgate price, Tanzania's warehouse receipts and TMX auctions, buyer licences, payment and shipping.
Read the guide →Cashew quality explained: KOR, nut count, moisture and kernel grades (W180–W450)
What KOR (outturn), nut count and moisture mean for raw cashew nuts, and how cashew kernels are graded: W180, W240, W320, W450, splits and pieces.
Read the guide →How to buy and export spices: pepper, cloves, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon
Where the main spices come from, how they are sold, which origins have special rules (Zanzibar cloves, Madagascar vanilla) and what buyers test before they pay.
Read the guide →Spice quality explained: pepper density, vanilla grades and clove quality
How black pepper is graded by density (g/l), how vanilla beans are graded by length and moisture, what makes good cloves, and the cleanliness tests spice buyers use.
Read the guide →How to buy and export sesame seeds: Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania and India
How sesame is traded: harvest seasons, the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, Tanzania's auctions, exporters in Nigeria and Sudan, cleaning, packing, payment and shipping.
Read the guide →Sesame quality explained: purity, oil content, FFA, moisture and colour
What sesame buyers check: purity (99.95%), oil content, free fatty acids, moisture, colour, admixture of other colours, and residue tests for the EU and Japan.
Read the guide →How cocoa prices work: London and New York futures, the ICCO daily price and farmgate prices
How cocoa beans are priced: ICE London and New York futures, the ICCO daily price in US dollars per tonne, fixed farmgate prices in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, and premiums for quality.
Read the guide →How Tanzania's raw cashew auctions work: licences, TMX bidding, payment and collection
A step-by-step guide to buying raw cashew nuts at Tanzania's electronic auctions: the Cashewnut Board licence, warehouse receipts, TMX pre-bids, payment within five working days and collection.
Read the guide →How to buy tea direct from factories and estates: samples, grades, packing and payment
A buyer's checklist for sourcing made tea direct from producers: when direct sales are allowed, how to read grades, what to ask in a sample, packing, contracts and safe payment.
Read the guide →How to list and buy tea, cocoa, cashews, spices and sesame on Coffee Parchment
Step-by-step: choose the crop, add the quality measures buyers check (grade, bean count, KOR, density, purity), filter lots, post a buyer request and trade directly.
Read the guide →From cherry to cup
Tap a photo to see it large. Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors, under free licences.
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