5 Questions Every Roaster Should Ask Their Importer

Introduction

Choosing the right green-bean partner isn’t just about price—it’s about trust, flexibility and consistent quality. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are five key questions to help you vet any importer’s service offering.

1. Which origins do you carry—and why those producers?

Understanding where beans come from—and who grows them—reveals a lot about both quality and ethics.

  • Look for specificity: “Honduras, Thailand, Guatemala” is more meaningful than “Central America”.

  • Ask how they select farms, and whether they pay premiums directly to growers rather than middlemen.

2. What traceability data do you provide?

Transparency in your supply chain supports consistent roast profiles—and helps you troubleshoot off-notes before they reach customers.

  • GPS-tagged origin data and varietal details let you map lot performance by farm altitude or microclimate Pull Request Coffee.

  • Independent cupping results and in-market freshness checks show you exactly how a lot scored and how long it’s been in transit.

3. What are your payment terms, and do you require full-bag minimums?

Cash flow matters—especially for small and mid-size roasters.

  • Flexible net-30 or net-45 terms let you cup and roast before payment is due.

  • No full-bag minimums (e.g., 30 kg pilot lots) mean you can experiment without over-extending your budget.

4. What pre-commitment support do you offer?

Buying green coffee is a leap of faith. The right importer helps you land that leap.

  • Do they include sample kits with cupping data and QC reports before you buy?

  • Can you run a small pilot—cup, roast and menu-test a micro-lot—without a long-term contract?

5. How do you handle quality or logistics issues after shipment?

Even the best-planned orders sometimes need rescue.

  • Will they issue proactive alerts (e.g., humidity flags) if something goes awry in transit?

  • What’s their process for re-drying, re-shipping or crediting lots that don’t meet agreed specs?

Next Steps

Use this checklist in your next meeting or email chain. A transparent, responsive importer will welcome these questions—as will your bottom line. When you’re ready to explore a truly roaster-first partner, let’s talk.

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