Export Process
Five steps from station to ship.
Go to section ↓One team from washing station to vessel.
Most quality problems happen at handovers, so we cut the handovers. We manage every step from collection at source to loading at Djibouti, with one point of contact for all of it.
Request a QuoteQuality & Traceability
Graded twice, certified, traceable to the station.
Go to section ↓Logistics & Shipping
Jute bags, FOB or CIF, full documents.
Go to section ↓Export Process
What happens to your coffee before it ships.
Quality is decided at every handover. Each step below is managed by our own team.
01
Collected at source
We buy directly from farmers across our six regions and pay before receipt. Each lot is recorded by origin and process.
02
Moved under waybill
Lots travel to our warehouse under official waybills, so every bag keeps its paper trail.
03
Cleaned, sorted, graded
Hulled, cleaned and sized, then sorted twice: by machine for density, by hand for defects.
04
Cupped and certified
Ethiopia's Coffee and Tea Authority cups and grades every lot. No certificate, no shipment.
05
Packed and shipped
Sorted, marked with your details, sealed in jute and loaded at Djibouti.
Quality & Traceability
Checked before it's sealed.
Every bag is marked with its region, lot number and grade, so you can trace it back to the station.
- Moisture
- Every lot tested before sealing
- Defects
- Counted against grade standard after hand sorting
- Density & size
- Machine graded. Screen 13–15, varies by season and lot
- Cup
- Cupped by the national authority before export
Grading
How Ethiopian coffee is graded.
Every export lot is graded by the defects found in the green beans, from Grade 1 to Grade 5, plus Undergrade. We supply all four export grades: 1–2 specialty, 3–4 commercial.
- G1 Grade 1 Zero primary defects. Specialty.
- G2 Grade 2 Very few primary defects. Specialty.
- G3 Grade 3 More defects allowed. Commercial.
- G4 Grade 4 Higher defect count. Commercial.
- G5 Grade 5 Mostly sold locally.
- UG Undergrade Below grade. Not exported.
- Specialty · Grades 1–2 · we export
- Commercial · Grades 3–4 · we export
- Not exported
Primary defects
Grade 1 allows zeroSerious defects that damage the cup and cause off-flavours. A single one can downgrade a whole lot.
- Full black beans
- Full sour beans
- Fungus damage
- Foreign matter (stones, sticks)
- Severe insect damage
Secondary defects
Limited by gradeSmaller faults. They count against the grade when they add up.
- Partial black or sour
- Broken or chipped
- Immature (unripe)
- Shells
- Withered
- Floaters
- Minor insect damage
| Defect | What it does to the cup |
|---|---|
| Black or sour beans | Bitter, rotten, medicinal |
| Mould | Musty, earthy |
| Immature beans | Astringent, grassy |
| Broken beans | Uneven roast |
| Insect damage | Flat, woody |
Logistics · Packing
Jute outside. Airtight inside.
Each bag has two layers. The jute bag handles the journey. The GrainPro liner inside keeps out humidity and keeps in aroma.
350 g / 500 g · Trial
Trial sizes of 350 g or 500 g from active lots, so you can cup before you commit.
Other sizes · On request
Standard jute bags of 60 kg, other sizes available on request.
Your mark
Company name, logo, production date and destination port, printed on every bag.
GrainPro liner (Ecotact or equivalent) included. Bags printed with your company name, logo, production date and destination port.
Logistics & Shipping
Shipped on your terms.
We clear Ethiopian customs and handle freight to the vessel. You choose how far we take it.
- Incoterms
- FOB Djibouti or CIF to your port
- Order size
- Trial from 10 bags. Containers of about 320 × 60 kg
- Lead time
- Ready lots load within 2–3 weeks of contract
- Payment
- Letter of Credit (typically 90-day) or Telegraphic Transfer
Pricing & payment
How prices are set.
Every price we quote is transparent and regulated. That's why it moves with the market.
Payment terms
Letter of Credit (typically 90-day tenor) or Telegraphic Transfer (TT).
- 01 The international market The New York "C" price for Arabica sets the baseline.
- 02 Our costs Processing, sorting, grading, packing and freight to port.
- 03 The ECTA minimum Ethiopia's Coffee and Tea Authority sets a minimum export price every week. Exporters can't legally sell below it.
FAQs
Shipping questions.
What bag sizes do you ship?
Standard jute bags of 60 kg, each with a GrainPro liner inside. Other sizes are available on request. Samples are sent in 350 g or 500 g packs.
Who handles customs and freight?
We do, all the way to the vessel at Djibouti. We quote FOB or CIF.
How much do I need to order?
Trial orders run from 10 to 50 bags. Full containers hold about 320 bags.
How do I know it will arrive fresh?
Every lot is moisture-tested before sealing. The seal that leaves Ethiopia is the seal you open.
How are your prices set?
From the New York 'C' price, our costs and the weekly ECTA minimum export price, which we can't legally sell below.
What payment terms do you accept?
Letter of Credit (typically 90-day tenor) or Telegraphic Transfer (TT).
Can you print our branding on the bags?
Yes. We print your company name, logo, production date and destination port once payment or the LC is confirmed and final sorting is done.
See the process in the cup.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will send samples and the current offer sheet.
Request a Quote