A: There is no minimum order: We’re as happy to ship 1 bag to you as we are to ship 100.

A: Full bags of coffee (59–70kg) will be stacked on a wooden pallet and wrapped with plastic stretch wrap. Even single-bag orders will typically need to be shipped on a pallet. Your coffee is palletized in the warehouse, and our warehouse partners will give your order their full attention, whether it’s one bag or 250 bags

A: Yes! We can provide roasted or green samples. You can request a sample via phone, email, or our customer portal.

A: Yes! We have competitive rates with many international freight carriers, and can work with you to ensure you get the delivery service that you need, whether you’re in Australia, New Zealand, or Asia.

A: Sure! Just let us know your preferred freight carrier, and we’ll be happy to liaise with them to ensure a smooth dispatch.

A: Yes! You can collect your order directly from our warehouse in Altona North. Simply let us know prior to placing your order and confirm what date you would like to collect your coffee so that we can coordinate with our warehouse team.

A: Our pallets are standard shipping pallets 1.2m x 1.2m and can be packed up to 1.5m high. Our wooden pallets weigh approximately 30kg each.

A: Depending on the size of the coffee bags, we can generally fit between 14–16 bags on each pallet. However, the total pallet weight cannot exceed 1,000kg including pallet and wrapping weight.

A: Yes! If you have a Chep account, we are happy to offer a Chep Exchange within the Melbourne Metro area. Simply provide your Chep account number to your sales rep so that they can help facilitate this.

A: Before you sign off on the delivery release for any shipment of coffee, thoroughly inspect the pallet and the bags on it. If there is any damage or any discrepancies between what is delivered and what is on your delivery order, do not sign the driver’s paperwork. Simply call us at +(03) 9428 6956 to be connected with your sales representative.

When in doubt, take a photograph of the damage as soon as possible, and e-mail it to your sales rep, or to australia@cafeimports.com.

A: We are dedicated to full customer service and want you to be completely satisfied with the coffees you receive from us. We stand behind the quality of every bean we sell. If there is any quality discrepancy from approved sample to arrived coffee for spot purchases, our sensory analysis team will evaluate the issue after seeing any photos or samples you can send us, and if confirmed, we will take the coffee back free of charge and send you back out a replacement coffee right away. Our priority is making sure you are extremely happy with the coffees you buy from us. If you have any questions or concerns about an order you have received, don’t hesitate to let us know via e-mail at australia@cafeimports.com or by phone +61 (03) 9428 6956, and we will do our level best to correct the issue right away.

A: Coffee wants a cool, dry environment that is out of the sun and away from areas where water, dirt, rodents, or insects can cause damage (i.e. preferably off the ground and away from food prep or storage). In an ideal world you’d have a dedicated warehouse or storage area with climate control set to 60–70°F (15–21°C) at 50–60% humidity, but we realize that isn’t possible for many small roasters.

If you have limited resources, we recommend the following:

• Keep your coffee in GrainPro bags and keep the GrainPro closed between uses.
• Store coffee in the coolest (but not cold) area of your facility, out of direct sunlight and away from anything that affects moisture in the air such as dishwashers, steam radiators, dehumidifiers, etc.
• If you have multiple bags on contract, consider allowing your importer to hold them in the warehouse over a few months rather than taking delivery of the entire volume at once: You can do this by adding a few cents/pound of carry to the price of the coffee.

A: Different coffees will respond differently to quality degradation over time. Some types of coffee hold up very well in storage; others fade more rapidly. The general rule of thumb is “fresh is best,” and we recommend using up green beans within 6 months of receipt, though up to a year is acceptable in most cases. For additional reading about coffee quality, storage, and age, read our sensory analysis director Ian Fretheim’s Water Activity in Specialty Green Coffee: A Long-Term Observational Study.