We do not ship on assurance. Every lot of cocoa and coffee we trade is sampled, graded and documented against a written specification before it loads. The quality certificate travels with the cargo; the numbers on it are the numbers on the contract.
This page explains how we control quality from farm gate to load port, and what happens if a lot falls short.
From farm gate to load port
Sampling protocol
- At intake: representative samples drawn from delivered lots, inspected for fermentation, moisture and defects.
- Pre-shipment: composite samples taken across the lot, split into sealed sets: one for our records, one for the buyer, one for independent survey where required.
- At loading: final samples drawn as the container or breakbulk hold is loaded, sealed and retained.
Samples are retained for 12 months and made available to the buyer on request.
Grading against specification
Each lot is graded against the contract specification: bean count, moisture, mould, slaty, defects, screen size, cup score. A lot either meets the specification or it does not. There is no "near enough."
- Cocoa: graded on moisture, bean count, mould/slaty/defect tolerances and FFA (see the Cocoa page).
- Coffee: graded on screen size, defect count, moisture and, for specialty lots, cup score (see the Coffee page).
Third-party survey
Where a contract requires it, or where a buyer requests it, we engage an independent inspection company (in the mould of SGS, Bureau Veritas or Cotecna) to survey at loading. We describe their role generically here: they sample, seal, grade and issue an independent certificate that travels with the shipment.
Independent survey is not a substitute for our own control; it is a second, documented opinion that the buyer can rely on.
Warehousing, fumigation and storage
- Warehousing: clean, dry, pest-controlled stores at origin, with lot segregation so certificates match physical stock.
- Fumigation: in line with ISPM 15 and phytosanitary requirements, with certificates of treatment.
- Condition monitoring: moisture and temperature tracked through storage so a lot does not drift between intake and loading.
Pre-shipment approval
For specialty lots and first-time counterparties, we offer pre-shipment approval: the buyer receives samples and, for coffee, a cupping report, and approves the lot before the contract is firm. This protects both sides against quality disputes after loading.
Rejection and claims policy
If a lot fails its specification at any stage, we do not ship it. If, after loading, a destination survey shows a shortfall against the contract specification, we address it:
- Notification: the buyer notifies us in writing, with survey evidence, within the contractual claim period.
- Review: we review the loading certificate, counter-samples and the destination survey.
- Resolution: we agree a quality allowance against the contract price, or a replacement, per the contract terms.
Our objective is to resolve claims on evidence, not on argument.
Documentation pack
A standard shipment carries:
- Quality certificate (our grade and, where used, independent survey).
- Phytosanitary certificate.
- Certificate of origin.
- Packing list.
- EUDR due-diligence statement (where required).
- Fumigation / treatment certificate (where applied).
We do not consider a shipment complete until the documentary pack is correct.
Talk to our quality desk
If you need a specific specification, a third-party survey arrangement, or pre-shipment approval, our quality desk will work with you.