On the coffee market, buyers have differing requirements when it comes to quality and sustainability practices of sellers. Mainstream buyers may seek certifications such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or Organic while specialty buyers may look for certifications like SCA or QCS which aim at improving coffee by addressing issues related to flavour, acidity and cup size.

European Union (EU) regulations set out strict regulations for exporting organic coffee. Green coffee produced within its borders must meet all the criteria laid out by Regulation (EC) 1235/2008 to qualify as organic coffee; to do this, an accredited control body must conduct an audit on its producer.

Importers of green coffee beans have the option of including the EU organic logo on imported products; it is required for pre-packed goods like roasted coffee and pods. When providing this logo in English language versions, to promote authenticity of products.

Not only should certifications be prioritized when selling coffee, it is equally essential to create strong and stable relationships with prospective buyers in order to secure long-term partnerships and sales of your beans. Keep in mind that buyers’ needs may change over time so it is wise to remain in close contact with them and stay apprised of their preferences.

Some buyers are offering premiums for high-quality organic coffee due to its increasing demand. These premiums may differ depending on country, producer and buyer; oftentimes these premiums are added onto baseline prices for green coffee beans.

Numerous initiatives aim to increase organic production in countries exporting to Europe, including Colombia’s Organic Coffee for Peace project or projects supporting transition from conventional to organic agriculture in Brazil and Ecuador. Colombia was home to nearly 10 thousand hectares of organic farms while in Brazil only 689 had organically produced coffee farms.

Europe is also increasingly trending towards purchasing specialty coffees that are both Fairtrade and organically certified, with 23% of Fairtrade coffee sales also featuring organic certification. Colombian and Brazilian producers may benefit from taking advantage of this trend to increase sales to their respective markets, though dual certification can present certain difficulties as certain requirements must be fulfilled to comply with both standards. Before making the leap to certification through this route, it is wise to consult the International Trade Centre Standards Map in order to get a good sense of which requirements each standard has and how these differ from one another.