Wholesale Buying Guide
How to Buy Ethiopian Green Coffee Wholesale, Direct From Origin
Buy Ethiopian green coffee wholesale direct from Greenbean-coffee — an ECX-licensed exporter in Addis Ababa. Order one FCL (≈19.2 MT / 320 × 60 kg bags), priced FOB Djibouti, with pre-shipment samples, SCA cupping reports, EUDR documentation and 2–4 week loading after lot approval.
Last Updated: August 2026
Buying green coffee directly from origin gives roasters and importers better margins, fresher lots and full traceability — but only when the process is clear. This guide walks through exactly how to buy Ethiopian green coffee wholesale from Greenbean-coffee: minimum order quantities, how pricing works, how to request and approve samples, the Incoterms and payment terms we offer, shipping and lead times, and the documentation you receive with every shipment.
Who we supply, and our minimum order quantity
We supply specialty roasters, green-coffee importers, distributors and café groups across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our standard minimum order is one full container load (FCL) — approximately 19.2 metric tons, or 320 jute bags of 60 kg. You can split a single container across our five origins.
| Order unit | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 1 jute bag | 60 kg |
| 1 full container (FCL) | ~320 bags / ~19.2 MT |
| Minimum order | 1 FCL (split-origin available) |
| Mixed-origin container | Yes — split across the five origins |
The 7-step wholesale buying process
Step 01
Request samples
Tell us your target origins, processing styles, score range and destination market, and we'll send a current offer list. We then courier pre-shipment samples (200–350 g) so you can roast and cup before you commit.
Step 02
Cup and approve your lots
Cup the samples on SCA protocol. We share our cupping scores and tasting notes for each lot, so you're approving a specific, documented lot — not a generic profile. Once you approve, we reserve that lot against your order.
Step 03
Understand the pricing
Ethiopian green coffee is quoted FOB Djibouti in USD per pound (or per kg). Pricing reflects the New York 'C' market — the global benchmark futures price for arabica coffee, traded on ICE Futures U.S. — plus an origin and quality differential that accounts for grade, SCA score and processing method.
Step 04
Contracting and Incoterms
We typically contract FOB Djibouti (or FCA Addis Ababa dry port for air freight); CIF is available on request. Your contract sets out origin, grade, SCA score, process, quantity, price, shipment window and packaging.
Step 05
Payment terms
Typical terms are a deposit on contract with the balance against shipping documents, or letter of credit at sight. We're happy to discuss arrangements suited to first-time versus repeat buyers.
Step 06
Packaging, shipping and lead times
Lots are packed in 60 kg jute bags, with GrainPro / hermetic liners available on request to protect freshness in transit. We load and ship within 2–4 weeks of lot approval, subject to harvest timing and vessel schedules.
Step 07
Documentation
Every shipment includes commercial invoice and packing list, ICO certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, bill of lading, weight and quality certificate, cupping report and EUDR geolocation pack.
Incoterms at a glance
| Incoterm | What the price includes | Who arranges ocean freight | Where risk transfers to buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB Djibouti | Coffee delivered, cleared & loaded onto the vessel at Djibouti | Buyer | Once loaded on board at Djibouti |
| FCA Addis Ababa | Coffee handed over, cleared for export, at the named place | Buyer | At hand-over at Addis dry port |
| CIF [destination port] | Coffee + freight + insurance to the destination port | Seller | When loaded at Djibouti (insurance covers transit) |
Indicative ocean transit from Djibouti
| Destination region | Indicative transit time |
|---|---|
| Middle East | 12–18 days |
| Europe | 18–25 days |
| North America (East Coast) | 28–35 days |
| Asia | 20–30 days |
Documentation you receive
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- ICO certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Bill of lading
- Weight and quality certificate
- Cupping report for the lot
- EUDR geolocation / traceability pack — see our EUDR-compliant Ethiopian coffee page.
For help interpreting cupping reports and SCA scores, see our Ethiopian coffee grading & SCA cupping scores explained guide.
Browse our five origins
- Yirgacheffe — floral, bergamot, citrus
- Guji — blueberry, dark chocolate, red wine
- Sidama — peach, honey, mild citrus
- Limu — bright, wine-like, caramel
- Jimma — full body, dark fruit, earthy
Request your offer list and samples
Tell us your target origins, volume and destination — we'll send a current offer list and pre-shipment samples.
