Many people have no idea how much goes into the coffee roasting process. It starts with the soil and ends with a complex roasting process. If you are looking for wholesale coffee please don't simply go with the first wholesale roaster you come across. And yes, you should deal directly with a roaster and not a distributor. If you purchase coffee wholesale directly from the roaster you have a much better chance of receiving fresh beans (this is not always the case.) Distributors are notorious for not rotating stock and providing inferior products.
Depending on your level of knowledge you may be at a loss as to where to start looking for your wholesale coffee supplier. First off, you need to evaluate how important coffee is to your business. If you are running or opening a cafe, then it is the most important ingredient. If you are opening a barbecue joint, chances are coffee will not be a big seller. If you want to provide your customers with the best tasting cup of Joe possible, then you should consider purchasing your wholesale coffee directly from a gourmet artisan coffee roaster.
Nearly everyone has heard the term Arabica Coffee. Arabica is a species of the genus Coffea. Arabica coffees are less prolific and grow at higher elevations than the other widely grown Robusta coffee or Coffea canephora. Arabica coffees are more costly and considered to be superior in flavor and structure to that of Robusta, so many gourmet coffee roasters only roast Arabica coffees. Choosing the right specie of Coffea is only the beginning. There are many different methods of growing and processing green coffee. Coffee is further separated into various grades based on the growing elevation and size of the beans. Grading systems vary be region and country. The definitions of true gourmet grade coffee is beyond the scope of this article. The point I am making is that when shopping for wholesale coffee it is crucial to find a roaster that knows about specialty grade coffee and more importantly, how to roast it.
Besides the quality of the coffee there are many other factors to consider when shopping around for your coffee supplier. There are environmental and social aspects to growing coffee (and other crops.) Personally, I believe in sustainable organic farming practices and fairly traded products. Thanks to increased consumer awareness and demand, there are many fine coffee roasters that specialize in certified organic and Fair Trade coffees. Even if you don't care about how the coffee is grown, or if the farmers received a fair wage, your customers do. If you can find wholesale coffee that has the added bonus of being certified organic and Fair Trade you may attract more customers in the long run.
How fresh is fresh? Some wholesale coffee roasters perform weekly roasting and build up stock of pre-packaged roasted coffee. Other roasters fresh roast all orders after they're placed. I believe in fresh roasting coffee after the order is placed. This way you can provide your customers with the freshest coffee possible. It is important when you're shopping for your wholesale coffee supplier that you find out if they fresh roast all orders and how long it will take them to fulfill orders.
Another thing you may want to consider is private label coffee. Some roasters will allow you to use your own private label to help promote your company. If you can find a high quality, fresh roasted coffee and have your company logo on the bag all the better! Even if you hadn't considered selling packaged coffee you may want to consider it. If your customers love your coffee then they would be more than happy to purchase a bag to take home or give to friends. Not only will you be making more money, you will be advertising your business with your private label.
Finally, I would advise that you make sure there is a clear and efficient communication between you and your wholesale coffee provider. If you know what you want and convey that to a competent roaster you will be on your way to coffee success!
Thanks To : Cuisinart EM-200
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