FAQ

FAQ

Buying green specialty coffee

How can I see all of Trabocca’s coffee offerings?

Simply visit MyTrabocca, set up an account, and log in. After doing this, all spot and soon to arrive coffees within your area will be visible.

Can I order free samples?

Yes. The only thing you have to do is set up a MyTrabocca account and request the samples you want.

How and where can I buy green coffee?

You can buy coffee online though MyTrabocca. Register here and get set up in minutes. If you want to contact a coffee trader, simply call +31 (0)204 074 499 (EU) or +1 (952) 657 – 8006 (US) or send an email to info [at] Trabocca dot com.

What is the minimum order quantity?

You can order as little as one bag (60kg)/box(20kg) through MyTrabocca.

When I buy coffee from Trabocca, do I need to take all the bags at once?

There is no need to take all the bags at once, you can spread delivery. We offer financing and storage services for pre-determined periods of time.

Does Trabocca offer certified coffee?

Yes, plenty. You find Organic, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade FLO, Fairtrade USA, Fair for Life and other certified coffees in our spot list. Please visit our certification page to download the full range of certifications.

Where does Trabocca store coffee?

We store our coffees in 15 warehouses spread out over the globe. Login to MyTrabocca to see the nearest warehouse location near you.

Where does Trabocca deliver coffee?

We deliver worldwide. So, anywhere you wish. Please reach out to us if you have specific questions about a destination.

Where can I find more information about coffee farms?

If you visit Our Coffees, you will find all the information we have on each farm.

Where can I find the quality terms as per product specifications?

You can find the quality terms as per product specifications here.

Logistics

How many warehouses does Trabocca have?

Trabocca has long-standing, proven relationships with over 15 warehouses globally (7 in the US and Canada alone), including primary consolidation warehouses in Oakland, CA, Carteret, NJ, and Rotterdam, NL. We excel at developing new warehouse relationships, and each new location undergoes a thorough QA / FSMA vetting process before we begin operations. Annual inventory counts and in-person visits are part of the norm to ensure accuracy and compliance. Ask us for specifics about our warehouse locations, and let us know if you are interested in developing a new storage location.

What are the primary ports Trabocca utilizes for inbound coffee?

As a global specialty provider, our coffees move through a variety of ports, including Oakland, New York, Seattle, Houston, Charleston, Rotterdam, Yokohama, Stockholm, Southampton, Sydney, Auckland, and more. Rest assured, we can move your coffee where it’s needed.

Is Trabocca working on any special logistics-related projects?

Trabocca is constantly striving to be faster and more efficient in order to process inbounds, samples, releases, DOs, invoices, and the like within the expectations of our customer base. Often, this manifests itself through internal IT projects and process changes to improve systems capabilities. However, we are always experimenting with transportation projects as well. What is the impact on quality and shelf life if we move parts of the same lot via standard dry container versus a refrigerated container? Or via airfreight instead of ocean? Logistics doesn’t have to be a cut-and-dried set of processes. We seek creativity and flexibility, as long as a given outcome improves our mission of timeliness and transparency.

What are the biggest challenges associated with moving green coffee around the globe?

Two of the biggest challenges – with moving green coffee around the globe – are container capacity shortages and missed transshipments. Specialty coffee often flows through origin ports that are serviced by fewer ocean lines (for example, many fewer lines service Paita, Peru compared to Los Angeles), which can create seasonal challenges in securing empty containers. We look to our preferred lines as often as possible, but it’s imperative to have secondary and even tertiary options available to ensure capacity and timely departures. Additionally, containers are often moved via feeder vessels through one, two, or even three ports before being loaded on a final vessel en route to the final port of destination. Inclement weather and seasonal volume spikes can cause delays at those initial transshipment ports, so we look to develop direct or near-direct routes whenever possible.

How does Trabocca ensure timely arrivals within a specified contract window?

We work directly (as opposed to via third parties) with ocean lines, transport providers, and warehouses to negotiate fair prices and timely service. Fostering direct relationships results in a smooth flow of information regarding capacity, arrivals, and potential delays. In addition, Trabocca is unique with respect to logistics in Ethiopia specifically because we employ a dedicated group of employees in Addis Ababa to directly supervise the prompt loading of each and every container.

How does green coffee get from a tree to my dock?

Ripe cherries are picked, sorted, and milled at origin, then transported to, bagged, and stored in local warehouses for rest and sample processing.  After Trabocca reviews and cups stocklot and pre-shipment samples with your specs and needs in mind, our trusted vendors load the coffee to containers per our instructions. Depending on the origin, this final loading may take place at a warehouse, a coastal port complex, or even at an inland dry port. Once the coffee loads to its intended vessel, we get busy collecting documents, making payments, informing warehouses, and arranging for customs clearance, all while keeping our customers informed of honest projected arrival dates. When the coffee lands at its destination port, we ensure it is cleared per local regulations (customs, FDA, etc.), then arrange transport to one of our many warehouse facilities where it is unloaded, counted for accuracy, and entered into inventory. From this point, we collect and cup arrival samples, alert customers to availability, and arrange outbound shipping through a variety of channels.

What logistics services does Trabocca offer?

Trabocca can manage as much or as little of your coffee supply chain as desired. Whether it’s delivering full containers from origin straight to your dock, managing LTL (Less Than Truckload) or FTL (Full Truckload) deliveries from our warehouses, moving specialty microlots by air, or simply transferring coffee from our position to yours at a specific warehouse, we can do it all. Tell us what you need, and we will work hard to make it a reality.

What would you consider to be the “mission statement” of the Trabocca logistics department?

Specialty coffee originates from often-obscure, rural locations across the globe. Additionally, harvest cycles and processing times can vary depending on regional weather patterns and local labor availability. Throw in a myriad of shipping options and the coffee supply chain quickly becomes complex. Our goal is to provide certainty and transparency in the face of these challenging and shifting variables. We will leverage our network of proven and reliable transportation partners to deliver your coffee when you need it.

Delivery in North America

Can Trabocca manage the delivery of my coffee from a warehouse to my roastery?

Absolutely. We work with a wide variety of carriers – both through brokers and carrier-direct relationships – to move anything from a single 30kg box, to full pallets of 60kg bags, to full truckloads of coffee. We are happy to provide rate proposals and carrier information at any point during the buying process.

What are Incoterms? How do they impact my contracts and deliveries?

The Incoterms you see on your contract with Trabocca define the point at which the risk of loss or damage to the coffee shifts from seller (Trabocca) to buyer (roaster). They also dictate to which party the originating warehouse will assess loadout charges, including handling, palletizing, banding, and shrink-wrapping. For shipments originating from Trabocca’s position at one of many warehouses, we typically structure contracts under four different terms: EXW, FCA, DAP, and DDP.

What is EXW?

EXW – Ownership risk shifts to the roaster / buyer once Trabocca’s DO is issued and confirmed received by the warehouse. The coffee moves into the account of the roaster, and the inventory and delivery processes are managed by the roaster. Subsequent warehouse storage, handling, prep, and load-out charges are assessed to the roaster directly by the warehouse. The roaster is billed for transportation costs directly by their nominated carrier.

What is FCA?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once the coffee is prepped and delivered/presented by Trabocca to the carrier selected by the roaster. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, and risk is transferred to the roaster once their nominated carrier accepts the freight at the warehouse. The roaster is billed for transportation costs directly by their nominated carrier.

What is DAP?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once Trabocca has made the coffee available for unloading at the roaster’s premises or nominated place of delivery. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, contracts a carrier, and is responsible for any damages in transit. For a cross-border (to Canada) delivery, DAP terms stipulate that the roaster is responsible for customs clearance. Trabocca includes the price of delivery as a line item on the order invoice, or builds it into the price of the coffee, depending on which method is agreed to with the roaster at the time the contract is issued.

What is DDP?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once Trabocca has made the coffee available for unloading at the roaster’s premises or nominated place of delivery. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, contracts a carrier, and is responsible for any damages in transit. For a cross-border (to Canada) delivery, DDP terms stipulate Trabocca is also responsible for customs clearance. Trabocca includes the price of delivery as a line item on the order invoice, or builds it into the price of the coffee, depending on which method is agreed to with the roaster at the time the contract is issued.

Can Trabocca manage my consolidation for me?

No. Roasters seeking to build consolidations between importers will need to take deliveries via EXW or FCA contract terms. Consolidated deliveries managed by Trabocca under DAP/DDP terms would mean that Trabocca assumes the delivery risk for coffee owned by other importers, for contracts that we are not party to.

How many bags can I load on a pallet?

For Trabocca-managed delivered (DAP/DDP terms), we will typically stick to a clean 10 bags per pallet. For roaster-managed deliveries (EXW/FCA terms), we will instruct the warehouse at the roaster’s discretion. Warehouses will load up to 12 bags per pallet, with extra wrapping and strapping. Our experience has shown that the risk of damage increases once pallets are loaded beyond 10 bags.

What are pallet dimensions?

A full pallet of 10 x 60kg bags is roughly 48”x40”x”48”. 1,322 net lbs, 1,372 gross lbs. Pallet weight can vary. We use 50 lbs as a conservative estimate. If seeking your own rates, be sure to quote the gross weight. We are happy to provide resources and cheat sheets for pallet dims of varying bag quantities on request.

What special delivery services do I need? What’s available?

Carriers offer a wide variety of special services. We generally see the need for the following:

Liftgate Delivery – No forklift? No dock? No problem. With liftgate service, your pallet(s) will arrive in a trailer equipped with a tail lift that will lower your coffee to the ground. Haul it away by hand, or with a pallet jack. Liftgate service often runs $50-80 over standard trailer delivery.

Notification – Carrier will notify you of your coffee’s impeding arrival. We include this service for all deliveries managed by Trabocca (DAP/DDP terms).

Appointment – Carrier will contact you to schedule a specific delivery window.

Residential Delivery – Service to non-commercial addresses (private home, apartment complex, etc.).

How does Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight work?

Hiring a full truck is expensive and would be inefficient for moving a single pallet. LTL services work to aggregate freight moving from one specific city or region, to another specific city or region. When you order a single pallet from, say, The Annex Warehouse in Alameda, CA, for delivery to a roastery in Bend, OR, the carrier will move the freight multiple times, in multiple trailers. A local driver will transport the pallet from the Annex to the carrier’s local terminal, or warehouse, in the Bay Area. Here, the pallet will be combined with freight from other shippers also wishing to move product to Oregon; enough to fill a single trailer, which will then move to the carrier’s destination terminal in the Portland, OR metro area. At the destination terminal, the pallet will once again be sorted and staged to move with other shippers wishing to move product to a more specific city or region, like that of Bend, OR. At this point, the receiver will be contacted for notification or appointment services, if requested. Then, the final delivery will be made. It’s important to remember that a single pallet is touched and moved many times throughout this process. More often than not, you get what you pay for! The lowest-cost carriers typically have much higher risk of damage or loss, which is important to keep in mind when selecting a provider.

How does Trabocca select carriers? What carrier should I use? Why are my freight rates changing?

Many factors dictate which carrier or broker we might use for a specific delivery. Some shipping lanes are very consistent with regular volume, in which case we might contract directly with a preferred carrier on that route. At the national level, for spot purchases or shipping lanes that we move less frequently, we are more likely to work through a broker who can show us a variety of carrier options at a variety of price and service levels. If Trabocca is managing your delivery, and you have a preferred carrier based on past experience, please let us know. We are also happy to make recommendations to roasters seeking to forge their own broker or carrier partnership. Rates fluctuate against factors like volume, market demand, and the price of fuel. Whether managing this process with Trabocca or a carrier/broker for your deliveries, roasters can request long term delivery price agreements, or pursue freight options on a spot basis.

What should I do when my coffee arrives? What if it arrives damaged?

Most importantly, always inspect the arriving pallet or pallets carefully before signing the bill of lading presented by the driver. Check for damage. Verify marks. Verify the bag count as best as possible. If the cargo matches expectations, sign the bill of lading and get that coffee into the roaster!

If the coffee arrives damaged, or short, note this clearly on the bill of lading before signing. This is the whole ballgame when it comes to filing claims. In the absence of these notes, the shipment is considered to have arrived intact. If the marks do not match, or if the pallet and coffee are severely damaged, you have the right to refuse delivery as long as the bill of lading has not yet been signed. At that point, turn the driver away and then promptly contact Trabocca and/or your carrier or broker. Under EXW or FCA terms, damages are the roaster’s responsibility, and a claim must be filed directly with the carrier or broker if desired. Under DAP/DDP terms, damages are the responsibility of Trabocca, and Trabocca will file a claim or devise another solution for the roaster. In either situation, we are standing by to assist with documentation or questions.

Photographing your arriving pallets can be very helpful as well, especially if they are short or damaged. Photos can offer subtle clues that help determine the point of loss; what color is the shrink wrap? Is there shrink wrap at all? How many bands are there? What color are the bands? Are any bands severed? Etc.

What kind of notice do warehouses need to fulfill orders?

This varies by warehouse. Contact your Trabocca rep for details. For ease of planning, consider 11 AM local warehouse time as the cutoff (time by which the warehouse needs a DO and BOL) for all facilities. An order placed at 11 AM PST Monday, will be ready to load out on Wednesday afternoon from the Annex. Assuming the local warehouse cutoff time is met, for all other warehouses that same order would be ready Tuesday afternoon. In other words, most warehouses can ship with 24 hours’ notice. The Annex is temporarily working with 48 hours. LTL carriers make pickups in the afternoon.

Can you rush my order?

Sometimes you get crunched and need coffee fast. It happens! Yes, warehouses offer rush service. Additionally, some LTL carriers offer “Guaranteed” service, which ensures your coffee moves under the stated transit time once loaded from the warehouse. In either instance, price premiums apply. Forecasting your needs well in advance is always the best option, especially in today’s volatile and congested logistics market.

Why is it taking so long for my coffee to load from the warehouse?

Our partners are moving thousands – and sometimes tens of thousands – of bags per week, and loading is at the whim of the nominated carrier. More often than not, cargo is ready quickly and as expected at the warehouse, but individual drivers run out of trailer space and do not return the same day. With the exception of the busy holiday season, a healthy majority of orders ship within 1-2 business days of the DO and BOL being issued.

My coffee loaded out from the warehouse, but is delayed. Why?

See “How does Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight work?” Pallets are moving through multiple terminals and on multiple trailers. Delays can and do occur, particularly seasonally with adverse winter weather conditions and during the peak holiday shipping season. Contact Trabocca or your carrier/broker for specific shipment updates and inquiries.

How do I track my order?

For Trabocca-managed deliveries (DAP/DDP terms), contact your Trabocca rep for a carrier PRO number or tracking link. For roaster-managed deliveries (EXW/FCA terms), please contact your carrier or broker directly to request a carrier PRO number or tracking link.

What are the most common delivery methods?

EXW shipments are common with roasters that have accounts with warehouses and want to manage their own inventory after it is released from Trabocca’s position. Since we work primarily with large consolidation warehouses, our most common delivery term is FCA. While a roaster assumes the risk of damage or loss earlier, FCA terms allow roasters to manage consolidations between importers while foregoing the need to open an account with the warehouse. DAP and DDP terms are increasingly common, allowing roasters to outsource the last mile leg work through Trabocca. DAP/DDP terms are workable for Trabocca-specific deliveries, not consolidations.

Delivery in EMEA

Can Trabocca manage the delivery of my coffee from a warehouse to my roastery?

Absolutely. We work with a wide variety of carriers – both through brokers and carrier-direct relationships – to move anything from a single 30kg box, to full pallets of 60kg bags, to full truckloads of coffee. We are happy to provide rate proposals and carrier information at any point during the buying process.

What are Incoterms? How do they impact my contracts and deliveries?

The Incoterms you see on your contract with Trabocca define the point at which the risk of loss or damage to the coffee shifts from seller (Trabocca) to buyer (roaster). They also dictate to which party the originating warehouse will assess loadout charges, including handling, palletizing, banding, and shrink-wrapping. For shipments originating from Trabocca’s position at one of many warehouses, we typically structure contracts under four different terms: EXW, FCA, DAP, and DDP.

What is EXW?

EXW – Ownership risk shifts to the roaster / buyer once Trabocca’s DO is issued and confirmed received by the warehouse. The coffee moves into the account of the roaster, and the inventory and delivery processes are managed by the roaster. Subsequent warehouse storage, handling, prep, and load-out charges are assessed to the roaster directly by the warehouse. The roaster is billed for transportation costs directly by their nominated carrier.

What is FCA?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once the coffee is prepped and delivered/presented by Trabocca to the carrier selected by the roaster. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, and risk is transferred to the roaster once their nominated carrier accepts the freight at the warehouse. The roaster is billed for transportation costs directly by their nominated carrier.

What is DAP?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once Trabocca has made the coffee available for unloading at the roaster’s premises or nominated place of delivery. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, contracts a carrier, and is responsible for any damages in transit. For a cross-EU border  delivery, DAP terms stipulate that the roaster is responsible for customs clearance. Trabocca includes the price of delivery as a line item on the order invoice, or builds it into the price of the coffee, depending on which method is agreed to with the roaster at the time the contract is issued.

What is DDP?

Ownership risk shifts to the roaster/buyer once Trabocca has made the coffee available for unloading at the roaster’s premises or nominated place of delivery. Trabocca assumes warehouse handling, prep, and load-out charges, contracts a carrier, and is responsible for any damages in transit. DDP terms stipulate Trabocca is also responsible for customs clearance. Trabocca includes the price of delivery as a line item on the order invoice, or builds it into the price of the coffee, depending on which method is agreed to with the roaster at the time the contract is issued.

Can Trabocca manage my consolidation for me?

No. Roasters seeking to build consolidations between importers will need to take deliveries via EXW or FCA contract terms. Consolidated deliveries managed by Trabocca under DAP/DDP terms would mean that Trabocca assumes the delivery risk for coffee owned by other importers, for contracts that we are not party to.

How many bags can I load on a pallet?

For Trabocca-managed delivered (DAP/DDP terms), we will typically stick to a clean 10 bags per pallet. For roaster-managed deliveries (EXW/FCA terms), we will instruct the warehouse at the roaster’s discretion. Warehouses will load up to 12 bags per pallet, with extra wrapping and strapping. Our experience has shown that the risk of damage increases once pallets are loaded beyond 10 bags.

What are pallet dimensions?

A full pallet of 10 x 60kg bags is roughly 120 x 80 x 150 cm 600 kg net/620 kg gross. Pallet weight can vary. We use 20 kg as a conservative estimate. If seeking your own rates, be sure to quote the gross weight. We are happy to provide resources and cheat sheets for pallet dims of varying bag quantities on request.

What special delivery services do I need? What’s available?

Carriers offer a wide variety of special services. We generally see the need for the following:

Liftgate Delivery – No forklift? No dock? No problem. With liftgate service, your pallet(s) will arrive in a trailer equipped with a tail lift that will lower your coffee to the ground. Haul it away by hand, or with a pallet jack. Liftgate service often runs $50-80 over standard trailer delivery.

Notification – Carrier will notify you of your coffee’s impeding arrival. We include this service for all deliveries managed by Trabocca (DAP/DDP terms).

Appointment – Carrier will contact you to schedule a specific delivery window.

Residential Delivery – Service to non-commercial addresses (private home, apartment complex, etc.).

How does Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight work?

Hiring a full truck is expensive and would be inefficient for moving a single pallet. LTL services work to aggregate freight moving from one specific region, to another region. When you order a single pallet from, our Warehouse for delivery to a roastery in another country the carrier will move the freight multiple times, in multiple trailers. A local driver will transport the pallet from the warehouse to the carrier’s local terminal, or warehouse. Here, the pallet will be combined with freight from other shippers also wishing to move product to Denmark for example; enough to fill a single trailer, which will then move to the carrier’s destination terminal. At the destination terminal, the pallet will once again be sorted and staged to move with other shippers wishing to move product to a more specific city or region. At this point, the receiver will be contacted for notification or appointment services, if requested. Then, the final delivery will be made. It’s important to remember that a single pallet is touched and moved many times throughout this process. More often than not, you get what you pay for!

How does Trabocca select carriers? What carrier should I use? Why are my freight rates changing?

For the European market we have a set number of freight forwarders that operate mainly with their own vehicles. This helps to eliminate communication errors and delay. We make use of a database that shows us the cheapest option for each postal code. For areas we don’t have these preset rates for we request spot rates at our trusted carriers.  Apart from road transportation we also work with an expediting agent to help us with export by Sea (LCL/FCL) or by Air. Rates fluctuate against factors like volume, market demand, and the price of fuel.

What should I do when my coffee arrives? What if it arrives damaged?

Most importantly, always inspect the arriving pallet or pallets carefully before signing the bill of lading presented by the driver. Check for damage. Verify marks. Verify the bag count as best as possible. If the cargo matches expectations, sign the bill of lading and get that coffee into the roaster!

If the coffee arrives damaged, or short, note this clearly on the bill of lading before signing. This is the whole ballgame when it comes to filing claims. In the absence of these notes, the shipment is considered to have arrived intact. If the marks do not match, or if the pallet and coffee are severely damaged, you have the right to refuse delivery as long as the bill of lading has not yet been signed. At that point, turn the driver away and then promptly contact Trabocca and/or your carrier or broker. Under EXW or FCA terms, damages are the roaster’s responsibility, and a claim must be filed directly with the carrier or broker if desired. Under DAP/DDP terms, damages are the responsibility of Trabocca, and Trabocca will file a claim or devise another solution for the roaster. In either situation, we are standing by to assist with documentation or questions.

Photographing your arriving pallets can be very helpful as well, especially if they are short or damaged. Photos can offer subtle clues that help determine the point of loss; what color is the shrink wrap? Is there shrink wrap at all? How many bands are there? What color are the bands? Are any bands severed? Etc.

What kind of notice do warehouses need to fulfill orders?

This varies by warehouse. Contact your Trabocca rep for details. For ease of planning, consider 11 AM local warehouse time as the cutoff (time by which the warehouse needs a DO and BOL) for all facilities. An order placed at 11 AM PST Monday, will be ready to load out on would be ready Tuesday. In other words, most warehouses can ship with 24 hours’ notice. But for some destinations additional paperwork comes into place. For example phytosanitary certificates, We need to request these from authorities, receive them by email and then courier over to the warehouse as they often have to travel with the goods.

Can you rush my order?

Sometimes you get crunched and need coffee fast. It happens! Yes, warehouses offer rush service. Additionally, some LTL carriers offer “Guaranteed” service, which ensures your coffee moves under the stated transit time once loaded from the warehouse. In either instance, price premiums apply. Forecasting your needs well in advance is always the best option, especially in today’s volatile and congested logistics market.

Why is it taking so long for my coffee to load from the warehouse?

Our partners are moving thousands – and sometimes tens of thousands – of bags per week, and loading is at the whim of the nominated carrier. More often than not, cargo is ready quickly and as expected at the warehouse, but individual drivers run out of trailer space and do not return the same day. With the exception of the busy holiday season, a healthy majority of orders ship within 1-2 business days of the DO and BOL being issued.

My coffee loaded out from the warehouse, but is delayed. Why?

See “How does Less Than Truckload (LTL) freight work?” Pallets are moving through multiple terminals and on multiple trailers. Delays can and do occur, particularly seasonally with adverse winter weather conditions and during the peak holiday shipping season. Contact Trabocca or your carrier/broker for specific shipment updates and inquiries.

How do I track my order?

For Trabocca-managed deliveries (DAP/DDP terms), contact your Trabocca rep for a carrier PRO number or tracking link. For roaster-managed deliveries (EXW/FCA terms), please contact your carrier or broker directly to request a carrier PRO number or tracking link.

Terms of delivery

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)

The importer pays for transport and takes the risk for the entire delivery. The risk transfers when the coffee arrives at the roasters facility. The Delivery Duty Paid alleviates a roaster from arranging and paying for shipment, insurance, and carrying any risk.

Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF)

The importer pays the cost of insurance and freight: from origin to the port of destination. Either a seaport, airport or dry port. But when the importer loads the coffee unto a carrier, the risk of loss transfers to the roaster. After the coffee reaches the port of destination, the roaster is responsible to arrange insurance for the remaining transport.

Free Carrier (FCA)

At the warehouse, the importer loads the coffee unto a carrier and passes on the risk to the roaster at that point. The coffee roaster pays for the transport, insurance, and any loss that might occur. On the contract, you will see FCA followed by the specific warehouse where you pick up the coffee.

Ex Warehouse (EXW)

The risk transfers from importer to roaster at the warehouse. If you choose this option, you agree to arrange the transport yourself. The importer only needs to prepare the coffee before pick up.

In ‘coffee trade slang’, Ex-warehouse is called Ex-works. On your contract, you will find the term ‘Ex-works’ followed by the warehouse and the reference to the Incoterms 2010.

Sample approval terms

SASR

Subject to Approval of Sample Replacement. For instance, you cup the sample and it ‘fails’. You can then request a replacement. Your importer offers a new coffee that matches the quality and price stated in the contract.

SAPSS

Subject to Approval of Pre-Shipment Sample. Your importer draws a sample of a batch that has not shipped yet and sends it to you. You approve or reject on the basis of the pre-shipment sample.

SAS-NANS

Subject to Approval of Sample No Approval No Sale. A straight forward term. If you cup, and the quality does not match with the contract, the sale is canceled.

Quality control

What quality protocol does Trabocca use?

Our cupping protocol is built on the SCA cupping standard and cupping form. The SCA form is the specialty coffee industry standard, making it easy to communicate with both roasters and producers. The same applies to green grading. Want to learn more about the SCA coffee standards and our quality protocol? Read more here.

How many times does Trabocca’s Quality department cup a specific coffee?

In general, we cup a specific coffee up to four times. Type, stock, pre-shipment, and spot samples all find their way to our quality labs in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and Minneapolis (the United States). Besides the ‘regular’ samples, we also re-cup spot samples to check any quality drops.

Who cups the Trabocca coffees?

We have a team of Q graders and Quality assistants spread out over three offices; Ababa (Ethiopia), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), and Minneapolis (the United States). It is their daily job to cup and evaluate every coffee that we source, buy, and deliver to you. Want to see who is on the Quality team? Visit our team page.

How does Trabocca’s Quality department roast samples?

We roast all our samples on Probat Sample Roasters with two or four drums. Our Q Graders and Assistants follow a strict protocol for roasting coffee samples. Want to more how they do it? Read more here and download our sample roasting protocol.