The Philippines is home to a rich coffee culture, with an ever increasing number of coffee lovers, coffee enthusiasts and coffee shops looking for the best beans. Wherever you are in the coffee industry, finding a reliable coffee supplier that can provide you with consistently high-quality coffee is crucial. In this guide, we’ll explore important variables to consider, the best practices for choosing the best coffee supplier to work with. So, how do you choose the best coffee supplier?
Variables To Consider When Choosing A Coffee Supplier
Choosing a coffee supplier is just like calibrating a new bag of coffee, there are so many variables to consider and oftentimes, it becomes overwhelming. While this list isn’t exhaustive, here are some important variables to consider when choosing a supplier that will have the most impact on your coffee business.
1. Quality of Coffee Beans:
Ensure your supplier provides high-quality, freshly roasted beans that is free of any major defects. Defects can include severe insect damage, moldy beans, and foreign bodies like small stones that will ruin your grinder. If you don’t have a grinder, some suppliers will grind upon request. If that is the case, make sure it is sealed properly and consumed immediately upon opening because ground coffee stales significantly faster than whole coffee bean. Check out the standards set by reputable organizations such as the Specialty Coffee Association, Coffee Quality Institute, and ASEAN.
Ask your supplier about their standard operating procedures and quality-checking practices. Check for relevant qualifications, licenses, certificates, and accreditations. If your supplier isn’t a direct manufacturer or roastery, you may be paying higher prices for questionable quality coffee.
Your coffee will need to rest for a few days up to a month from roasting, depending on the coffee. A good roastery will always provide the roast date and recommended rest period. Avoid suppliers that do not provide roast dates. Remember, it is better to purchase coffees that are freshly roasted and let them rest in your shop rather than to risk buying old stock that is long past its peak.
2. Coffee Options:
Choose suppliers offering a diverse selection of blends and single-origin beans. Attend coffee cupping events to find the best matches for your café and customers. High-quality coffees have distinct origin characteristics that will stand out in your brew if they are roasted right. Go to these events with a goal and taste profile in mind but also be open to new experiences – a lot of specialty coffees will surprise you!
You’ll presented with so many options to choose from, but you don’t have to buy all the blends and origins that the supplier offers. Taste and see what’s available and choose the coffee that best suits your café and your customers’ preferences. There’s no need to buy the super expensive, rare origin coffee if the market you cater to has yet to discover the world of specialty coffee!
3. Customer Service:
Find a coffee supplier that is willing to go the extra mile to meet your coffee needs. Your supplier should be responsive, helpful, and willing to find ways to accommodate your requests, ensuring timely deliveries and addressing any concerns you have about the coffee. Your coffee supplier should be able to help you calibrate your equipment to get the best out of your coffee. Some will even go as far as helping you develop your recipes and menu.
Be wary of suppliers that are eager to sell you their coffees but are hard to contact after making the sale, leaving you wondering when your coffee purchase will arrive at your shop, or if it will arrive at all. You work hard to give the best quality to your customers, it’s only right to expect the same high-quality service from your supplier.
4. Pricing and Terms
Seek competitive pricing and flexible terms. A good supplier will work with you to help you grow your business, and that includes fair pricing and terms that don’t leave you compromising on quality and cutting costs elsewhere. If you aren’t already, you should project and monitor the volume of coffee that you go through on a weekly or monthly basis and share that information with your coffee supplier. Most suppliers will offer a significant discount on large volume orders and will even offer to create a custom blend unique to your shop if you reach a certain threshold.
Keep in mind though that green coffee prices are as fickle as stock prices, which comes with no surprise because coffee is the 2nd most traded commodity in the world. Establishing good payment terms with your supplier will help protect you from these market changes and keep your coffee prices predictable and consistent.
No matter how attractive a coffee supplier may seem, always do your due diligence!
Sample Before You Commit:
Always request samples to assess the quality and flavor of the coffee before deciding. If entering a contract, make sure your contract specifies quality requirements with a safety net for substandard deliveries.
Visit the Supplier:
When possible, visit the supplier to understand their operations and build a healthy business relationship. This can also open opportunities for collaborations that can provide you and your customers great value!
The Coffee Supplier You Need - Pure Grounds Coffee Co.
We at Pure Grounds Coffee Co. take pride in being one of the best coffee suppliers and coffee roasters in the Philippines. Our commitment to quality ensures you receive only the finest beans, whether you're brewing at home or serving customers in a café.
Unmatched Quality:
We pride ourselves on offering meticulously sourced and roasted coffee beans that undergo strict testing and development processes to ensure that only consistently high-quality coffee leaves our roastery.
Diverse Selection:
From unique blends to single-origin coffees, our product range caters to all coffee lovers. We cherish the variety of flavor notes that different coffee origins and different roast levels can provide, which is why our roast development team roasts each new coffee in various ways to identify the best profile for every coffee we offer before we offer it.
Exceptional Service:
We believe that exceptional customer service is just as important as the quality of our coffee. Our goal is to build lasting relationships with our customers, founded on trust, satisfaction, and a shared love for great coffee. Our team is composed of seasoned coffee professionals with a passion not only for coffee but also for people. We love seeing people succeed and we’ll go the extra mile to help you get to where you want to be through in-person coffee business consultations and café essentials training.
Get In Touch!
Are you ready to experience the finest coffee the Philippines has to offer? Don’t settle for anything less than exceptional. Whether you're a café owner, a coffee enthusiast, or just need quality coffee that won’t disappoint, our beans are guaranteed to elevate your coffee experience. Fill in the form below to get in touch and join the growing community of satisfied customers who trust Pure Grounds Coffee Co. for their coffee needs. Your cup of pure joy is just a click away!
We’d love to hear your insights on choosing a coffee supplier, feel free to send us a direct message or leave a comment!
