Two green coffee quotes can look alike and still describe very different deals. A price per kilo means little until you know the coffee, the quantity, the delivery term and what is included. Reading a quote line by line before you compare prices helps you see what each offer actually covers and which questions to ask the supplier first, before you commit to anything.
The coffee: origin, grade and crop
A quote should name the origin, the grade or screen size, the processing method and the crop year. If one of these is missing, the price cannot be compared with another offer. Ask whether the quote refers to a described lot or to a type of coffee, and whether a pre-shipment sample is offered so you can approve the coffee before it ships.
Quantity, packing and tolerance
Check the quantity, how it is packed (jute sacks, hermetic liners, bulk) and how many containers or lots it covers. Ask what tolerance applies to the final shipped weight. Small differences in packing or quantity change the cost per kilo you actually pay once the coffee arrives.
Price basis and delivery term
State the currency, whether the price is fixed or tied to a reference such as the ICE C market with a differential, and the delivery term, for example FOB, CFR or CIF, with the named port. The same coffee priced FOB and CIF is not the same offer, because freight and insurance may sit with a different party. Check the Incoterms rule named in the quote.
Payment, validity and what is not included
Look at the payment terms, the shipment window and how long the quote stays valid. Then ask what is left out: port charges, customs duties, inland transport, insurance or inspection fees. A cheap line can hide costs that are added later. Write the answers into the final confirmation.
Frequently asked questions
What should a green coffee quote include?
At least the origin, grade, processing, crop year, quantity, packing, price with currency, delivery term with named port, payment terms, shipment window and validity. Anything missing should be asked before you compare.
Why can two quotes for the same coffee differ in price?
They may use different delivery terms, payment terms, crop years or packing, or one may leave out costs the other includes. Compare them only after putting both on the same basis.
Is a quote a binding contract?
Not by itself. A quote usually states an offer and its validity, and the transaction is confirmed in writing with the agreed terms. Read the validity and any conditions before you rely on a quote.
Atlas recommends comparing quotes only on the same basis: same specification, same delivery term, same payment terms. Send us the details of your request and ask us to set out each line in writing; terms for each transaction are confirmed only in writing.
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