Samples & quality
Green coffee samples: what to request and how to compare them
A checklist for requesting green coffee samples, organising your roastery’s evaluation and preparing a clear purchase enquiry.
Green Coffee · 2 min read
01
Make your sample request specific
Tell the supplier what coffee you need, its intended use and your expected purchase quantity. Include the delivery country and your timeline.
Ask about sample quantity, price, shipping costs and expected timing. Conditions vary: do not assume samples are free or dispatched immediately.
02
Link the sample to the offered lot
Keep a reference that connects each sample to its quotation. Store the label, technical information and receipt date together.
- Check the lot code against the quotation.
- Ask whether it represents available stock or an upcoming shipment.
- Request current technical information and commercial terms.
- Clarify minimum order, availability and price validity.
03
Use a repeatable comparison
Prepare and evaluate samples consistently. Record roast and tasting conditions: differences in preparation can make comparisons less useful.
Where possible, taste without seeing supplier names. Collect individual observations before discussing results, separating personal preferences from production requirements.
04
From tasting to a purchase decision
Record strengths, open questions and suitability for your intended use. Before ordering, reconfirm quantity, price and delivery terms.
A useful enquiry is: ‘We are sourcing Brazilian green coffee for [use], with an indicative purchase of [quantity] delivered to [destination]. We would like to evaluate samples of available lots. Could you share technical information, sample conditions and a quotation?’