FAQ

1. What is Uganda Coffee Suppliers?

Uganda Coffee Suppliers is a licensed green coffee export enterprise based in Uganda, specializing in sourcing and exporting high-grade Fine Robusta and specialty Arabica coffees to international roasters, brokers, and importers primarily across Europe and worldwide.

2. Where are your processing facilities and offices located?

Our operations and central warehousing/dry milling facilities are located in Kampala, Uganda, strategically positioned near primary green coffee collection corridors and major transport arteries leading to the port of export.

3. Do you sell green coffee to individual retail consumers?

No. We operate strictly on a business-to-business (B2B) model, serving commercial roasters, wholesale importers, and industrial coffee manufacturers requiring full container loads (FCL) or commercial sample lots.

4. What are your core coffee export offerings? We primarily export Uganda Natural Robusta (Screen 18, Screen 15, and Screen 12) and Ugandan Washed Arabica, specifically Bugisu AA/AB from Mount Elgon, as well as Natural Drugar Arabica.

5. How can I verify your business legitimacy and export credentials?

We operate under official licenses issued by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). Verification documents, tax registration details (URA TIN), and corporate registry records (URSB) can be provided upon direct commercial request.

6. What are the main characteristics of your Robusta Screen 18?

Our Screen 18 Fine Robusta features a bean size retained on a 7.14mm sieve, a maximum defect rate of 5% by weight, controlled moisture between 11.0% and 12.5%, and a flavor profile defined by a bold body, dark chocolate, toasted neutral spice, and heavy crema performance.

7. What is the difference between Screen 18 and Screen 15 Robusta? Screen 18 features larger beans retained on a 7.14mm sieve with a heavier body and crema profile, whereas Screen 15 utilizes beans retained on a 5.95mm sieve, offering a balanced body with cocoa nibs and nutty notes suitable for varied espresso blends.

8. What growing region produces your Bugisu AA Arabica?

Our Bugisu AA Arabica is cultivated on the high-altitude volcanic slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda, at elevations ranging between 1,600m and 2,200m above sea level.

9. What cupping notes can I expect from Bugisu AA Arabica?

Bugisu AA is known for a vibrant citric acidity, full velvety body, black tea notes, stone fruit character, and delicate floral jasmine aromatics, typically scoring within the specialty range (SCA 83–86+).

10. What does Drugar mean in your Arabica catalog?

Drugar stands for “Dry Uganda Arabica.” It is a natural (sun-dried) Arabica grade characterized by wild berry notes, winey acidity, a heavy syrupy body, and a deep dried-fruit flavor profile.

11. What is the standard moisture content of your green coffee?

All green coffee lots are dried and monitored to maintain an export-standard moisture range between 11.0% and 12.5% (or 10.5%–12.0% for select specialty Arabicas) to prevent mold growth during transit.

12. How do you prevent moisture re-absorption during ocean freight?

We pack our green coffee in standard 60kg jute bags equipped with high-barrier GrainPro or EcoAdapt airtight liners to protect the beans from humidity fluctuations and ochratoxin A (OTA) development.

13. What export certificates do you provide with every shipment? Every consignment includes an official UCDA Quality and Export Certificate, an International Coffee Organization (ICO) Certificate of Origin, and a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by MAAIF.

14. What is a UCDA Quality Certificate?

It is an official document issued by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority following mandatory pre-shipment inspections, verifying that the coffee meets national export grade and quality standards.

15. What does an ICO Certificate of Origin guarantee?

The ICO Certificate guarantees the 100% authentic geographical origin of the coffee from Uganda, serving as a primary document required for international customs clearance.

16. Are your shipments inspected for pests and plant health?

Yes. Every container is inspected and certified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to ensure freedom from quarantine pests and biological contaminants, accompanied by standard container fumigation.

17. Are you compliant with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)?

Yes. Our procurement and export framework is fully aligned with EUDR mandates to ensure complete supply chain traceability for all coffee destined for the European Union.

18. What EUDR data do you provide to European buyers?

We supply polygon shapefiles or single-point GPS geolocation data for participating farm plots, satellite baseline deforestation risk assessments, and Chain of Custody ledgers linking the coffee back to primary farmer groups.

19. Who submits the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) to the EU Information System?

While we provide the comprehensive traceability dataset, polygon coordinates, and batch reference records, the European importer or their authorized representative typically registers and submits the final DDS within their jurisdiction.

20. Can you trace coffee back to individual smallholder farmers?

Yes. Our supply chain mapping links export lots directly to registered primary farmer cooperatives and collection centers, ensuring complete transparency down to the origin cluster.

21. What shipping Incoterms do you offer? We primarily trade under FOB Mombasa (Free on Board at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya) or CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) to designated international ports.

22. What is the standard shipping container capacity for green coffee? A standard 20-foot dry container (FCL) typically holds approximately 320 to 360 bags of 60kg green coffee (roughly 19.2 to 21.6 metric tonnes net weight).

23. Which port are containers dispatched from?

Containers are transported via secure transit corridors from Kampala to the Port of Mombasa (Kenya) for ocean freight shipping to Europe and other global destinations.

24. What is the typical transit time from Mombasa to European ports?

Ocean freight transit times from Mombasa to major European ports (such as Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, or Genoa) generally range between 25 to 35 days, depending on the carrier and shipping line schedules.

25. How do you handle force majeure or shipping delays?

In the event of unforeseen disruptions (such as extreme weather anomalies, port congestion, or regional logistical bottlenecks), we maintain open communication channels and coordinate closely with freight forwarders to mitigate transit delays.

26. What is your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for full container loads?

Our standard MOQ for full commercial export contracts is one 20ft container load (FCL), though smaller trial shipments can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

27. Can I request green coffee samples before placing a container order? Yes! We strongly encourage roasters and importers to evaluate our quality first. We dispatch 300g–1kg sample batches worldwide via express couriers like DHL or FedEx.

28. What types of samples can I request?

You can request Type Samples (standard grade representation), Stock Lot Samples (drawn from specific warehouse inventories ready for booking), or Pre-Shipment Samples (PSS) (drawn directly from packed container lots).

29. How do I request a sample?

You can submit a sample request directly through our website by specifying your target coffee grade, required volume, and delivery destination details.

30. What payment terms do you accept for commercial contracts? Standard payment structures include Irrevocable Letters of Credit (LC) at sight, or a structured combination of an advance deposit wire transfer with the balance secured against shipping documents (Bills of Lading and UCDA certificates).

31. What steps are involved in your internal quality control process?

Our 5-step quality cycle includes initial reception moisture screening, pre-cleaning and gravity separation, optical color/size sorting, certified Q-Grader laboratory cupping, and final pre-shipment container sealing.

32. Who evaluates the sensory profile of your specialty coffees?

Our physical batches and specialty lots are evaluated by certified Q-Graders who assess bean density, physical defect counts, screen percentages, and cup scores.

33. What packaging materials are used for export bags?

Green coffee is packed in durable 60kg export-grade jute bags fitted with high-barrier GrainPro or EcoAdapt inner liners to preserve bean freshness and prevent moisture damage.

34. How can I contact your export sales team for inquiries?

You can reach us via our official website contact portal at [https://www.ugandacoffeesuppliers.com/](https://www.ugandacoffeesuppliers.com/), through our corporate email, or via our designated business phone and WhatsApp lines.

35. Are price quotations subject to market fluctuations?

Yes. Due to the inherent volatility of global green coffee commodity markets (such as the ICE / London and New York exchanges) and currency exchange rates, official price quotations carry a specified validity period outlined in our proforma invoices.