Every year, roasters reach out to LetSequoia asking some version of the same question: "We love African origins in theory, but buying directly from an origin-based exporter feels complicated. Where do we start?"
This guide is my answer. After twelve years of exporting from Rwanda and DR Congo, I've learned what buyers need to know — and what they're often afraid to ask.
Step 1: Request a Sample — Always
Never commit to an order based on tasting notes alone, no matter how beautifully written. Every serious specialty exporter — including LetSequoia — should be willing to send you a sample before you commit. If they're not, that's a red flag.
When you receive a sample, cup it at least twice: once on day one and once on day three or four. African coffees often open up significantly with a day of rest after grinding. Make your purchase decision based on what you taste, not what the description promises.
Step 2: Understand the Harvest Calendar
East and Central African coffees have distinct harvest windows that differ by country and altitude. Rwanda's main harvest typically runs April through June, with processing completing by August. DR Congo's South Kivu region follows a similar pattern, with some variation depending on altitude.
This matters for your planning. If you want fresh-crop Rwanda in September, you should be in conversation with your exporter by May — ideally earlier. Waiting until August means you're competing for the remaining allocation of a crop that's already spoken for.
Forward contracting — committing to a volume before the crop is processed — is common in specialty, and it benefits both sides. You lock in your coffee; the exporter has the certainty to invest in quality.
Step 3: Know Your Volumes and Lead Times
Most exporters working with quality African origins are not set up for spot orders of 60kg. The economics don't work. Expect minimum orders in the range of one to five bags (60–300kg) for green coffee, with larger minimums for sea freight consolidation.
Lead times from Rwanda or DR Congo to North America or Europe via sea freight run eight to twelve weeks from export date. Air freight is available for urgent needs but adds significant cost. Plan your purchasing calendar accordingly — if you're launching a Rwanda lot in April, you should be ordering in January.
Step 4: Understand the Documentation
Specialty green coffee import involves real paperwork: certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, ICO certificate, and depending on your country, import permits. A good exporter handles the origin-side documentation. Your customs broker or importer handles the destination side.
If you're buying through an importer rather than directly from origin, most of this is invisible to you. If you're buying direct — which gives you better traceability, stronger relationships, and often better pricing — build a relationship with a customs broker who knows agricultural imports before you place your first order.
Step 5: Price Realistically
African specialty green coffee is not cheap, and it shouldn't be. When you see green prices that seem too good for the quality described, ask questions. Prices that don't account for fair farmer compensation, quality investment, and the real cost of logistics from remote origin countries are either subsidized by cutting corners somewhere — or they're not the quality they claim to be.
The price you pay per kilogram of green coffee should make sense against: the cup quality you're receiving, the traceability and story you're buying, the community impact you're funding, and the export logistics from a challenging geography. Bargaining a specialty exporter down to commodity pricing isn't sharp buying. It's undermining the model that makes quality possible.
Working With LetSequoia
Our process is simple: contact us, tell us what you're looking for, and we'll send you a sample. If you love it, we'll talk volumes and timing. If it's not right for your program, we'll tell you honestly and point you toward what we think might work better.
We maintain relationships with buyers across North America, Europe, and East Asia. We're not looking for one-off transactions — we're looking for roasters who want to tell the Rwanda and DR Congo story as part of their program, season after season.