Initialising experience_
No serious buyer commits to a container on a description. Cup it first. Here is how sampling works, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to request one.
Coffee is an agricultural product. Two lots from the same washing station in consecutive years will not cup identically, and no tasting note written by a seller is a substitute for your own cupping table.
We would rather you sampled, disagreed with our assessment and walked away than committed to twenty tonnes on trust. It is better for you and it is better for us.
A standard sample is 200g to 500g of green coffee drawn from the lot under discussion, sent with a specification sheet listing region, altitude, grade, processing method, screen size, moisture content and our own cupping score.
For buyers close to committing on a large lot, we arrange a pre-shipment sample drawn from the exact reserved consignment rather than a representative batch. Say so when you request and we will set it up.
Sample coffee itself is generally provided without charge on genuine commercial enquiries. Courier costs are normally met by the buyer, and we will tell you the amount before anything is dispatched.
Dispatch is typically within three to five working days of a confirmed request. International courier then takes a further three to seven working days depending on destination and customs.
For buyers who order samples repeatedly, we can consolidate several lots into one shipment and save you the freight.
Samples are requested against a specific product, so that the request reaches the right supplier and you can track it afterwards from your account.
Browse the catalogue, open the product you are interested in and use the sample request on that page. You do not need an account to request — guest requests are first class — but creating one lets you follow the status of every sample and quote in one place.
If you are not sure which lot you want, request a quote instead and describe the profile you are chasing. We will suggest two or three and sample those.
Tell us what you thought, honestly. If the lot is not right, say what was wrong with it — too bright, too heavy, not enough body — and we will suggest something closer.
If it is right, we move to a pro-forma invoice covering price, packaging, Incoterms and shipping window. The lot is reserved in your name once the deposit is received.
Five quick questions. We match your answers against what is actually in stock and tell you why each lot fits.
No account, no email. Takes about a minute.