Questions You Should Ask Your Wholesale Coffee Supplier

Finding a good wholesale coffee supplier can be a daunting task. If you are looking to offer high-quality coffee in your bakery, café, restaurant, hotel, or office or upgrade your coffee service setting, there are a few things you need to consider.

From the quality of the coffee to their espresso machine offerings available, you need to make sure that your coffee contract is right for you and your business. 

Learn our tips to buy bulk coffee beans and choose a coffee supplier that will help your business stand out.

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What is Your Wholesale Coffee Pricing & Quality?

Even though pricing is a deciding factor when choosing a wholesale coffee supplier, it should not be the only one. You know your customers better than anyone else. Every coffee is unique, and to match your target market’s preferences, you need to understand if your bulk coffee supplier offers a roasting profile that is suitable for this purpose.

Freshness is important too, especially when ordering high volumes of coffee. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to your coffee supplier about their roasting schedule and how many days after roasting you will receive the coffee.

Additionally, you should figure out whether the coffee you are purchasing pairs well with the coffee preparation methods you intend to offer and if it is well suited to milk-based drinks. Ideally, you want to achieve a balanced flavour, without having one ingredient covering the other. They rather need to be complementary.

If you're switching coffee suppliers, consider whether your customers, especially your most loyal ones, are willing to accept coffee with a different taste. Ask your supplier about their flavour profiles. 

Even though good coffee machines and coffee preparation devices are key to achieving a good cup too, the quality of the coffee is what will define the result in the final cup.

Will You Supply a Coffee Machine And Offer Tech Support?t

Everything we have mentioned is assuming that you already have a coffee service venue with a proper set up. But if you are starting from scratch, or want to add a coffee setup to an unusual venue like an educational facility or an office, you need to use the right coffee machine and equipment.

A bean-to-cup-machine? A high-end espresso machine? Sometimes, you may not realize the amount of coffee that you will be preparing and serving. Your wholesale coffee supplier will walk you through the options available and help you choose the right coffee machine for your needs. The cherry on the cake is if your coffee supplier offers coffee preparation training and helps you stay updated with the latest trends or develop new beverages.

Additionally, things may go south in the middle of your shift. You may not be sure about who you should call to help you during an emergency. Generally, if you acquire  a coffee machine through your coffee supplier, you will get your machine serviced, and revisioned, and you will always be able to count on expert technicians to take care of your emergencies.

Be sure to understand the terms of your contract and do not hesitate to clearly express your requests and needs.

Is Your Coffee Ethically Sourced?

Besides the sensory quality and flavour profile of the coffee you are purchasing, your coffee supplier’s sourcing practices are something often overlooked.

As more consumers become aware of the effect of their purchasing decisions on people and the environment, you should always ask about the origin of the coffee, and whether your supplier paid a fair price to the people who grew and processed it in origin countries. Figure out if they have a sustainability at origin initiative in place or are contributing to one.

This will not only make you stand out as a venue that sources and offers ethical products, but you will also attract more customers with similar views.

The origin of your coffee offers you a great opportunity to introduce your customers into the specialty coffee world. It could open the door to coffee origins, processing methods, varieties and sensory profiles.