In order to sell wholesale coffee to coffee distributors, it is important to have specific wholesale coffee education and training. You will be in the position of selling coffee to the nation's coffee experts and you can't risk being caught off guard by a question you can't answer. You need to know the ins and outs of the coffee you are selling and be sure of yourself when dealing with clientele.

For you to stay profitable in the coffee wholesale business, the more wholesale coffee education and training, the better. There are many options to further your knowledge and keep you up to date on the latest in the coffee industry. Show your wholesale coffee distributors that you take your job seriously by always being able to give them the answers they seek.

Consider the following resources when looking to further your wholesale coffee knowledge:

1. Specialty seminars are offered to learn more about wholesale coffee.

2. Schools exist that are dedicated to wholesale coffee education and training.

3. Joining coffee wholesale organizations can keep you in the loop about new trends the coffee industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend seminars for coffee wholesalers

If you learn best in short, detailed sessions, going to topic-specific workshops may work best for you. Coffee seminars are often short and cover a specified topic that you know ahead of time. The time commitment is small and they are often the most cost effective option for providers of wholesale coffee.

I recommend: Cafe Makers offers a wide variety of seminar topics and offers on-site training opportunities at your facility to train your whole staff. Agtron has developed a comprehensive one-day workshop specifically for coffee professionals.

Look into coffee schools for wholesalers of coffee

For a more in-depth approach, coffee schools are also available to suppliers of wholesale coffee. These schools offer a series of classes that cover many topics over a period of time. This is a more time-intensive route to wholesale coffee education and training, but offers a more rigorous curriculum.

I recommend: The American Barista and Coffee School offers a series of classes and awards certification at the end of the series. BEST Coffee School explains their five-day program that covers a variety of aspects of coffee.

Become a member of professional coffee organizations for wholesale coffee suppliers

As a member of coffee organizations, you are privy to coffee industry updates and invitations to conferences and seminars. These organizations will also put you in contact with other suppliers of wholesale coffee beans and help you to stay informed about your products. Events focused on your industry offer the opportunity to network with other wholesalers and trade knowledge.

I recommend: The Specialty Coffee Association of America hosts an annual expo and offers skill-building workshops. The National Coffee Association of U.S.A. explains the benefits of joining their organization.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Advertise the fact that you're coffee wise. Be sure that your customers are aware that you are investing time and money into being able to better serve them.

When you spend money for wholesale coffee, you want to make sure it's the best quality for your coffee connoisseurs. Buy from reputable coffee wholesalers to ensure you get the best wholesale coffee beans at the best price, but consider some other options for your coffee business to keep customers coming back for cup after cup of your delicious brew.

Good quality beans from good quality suppliers of wholesale coffee play a big role in your coffee shop's success, but there are other items to think about when you're making the most of wholesale coffee. Consider:

1. Storing your wholesale coffee beans in the right place for the optimum freshness and taste.

2. Roasting your own wholesale coffee for flavor and additional coffee sales.

3. Learning more about the types of coffee beans available from wholesale coffee distributors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Uncover the right place to store your coffee you purchase from suppliers of wholesale coffee

When you purchase your product from providers of wholesale coffee, you usually have to buy in bulk to save the most. That's not a problem if you know how to store your coffee to maintain optimum flavor and freshness. Many people think storing whole coffee beans in the refrigerator or freezer is the best way to preserve the beans, but that's not always the case.

I recommend: Read up on how to store your coffee beans at the Coffee Tea Warehouse. You'll discover the best way to store bulk wholesale coffee, and whether to grind it before you store it or not. Store coffee in vacuum-sealed opaque jars for the best results. You can find them at 1st-line Equipment.

Learn how to roast your own green coffee beans purchased from coffee bean distributors

Roasting your own coffee ensures the freshest, tastiest product for your coffee consumers. It's also a way to add on to the profits of your coffee business, since you can sell the roasted coffee both retail to your clients and wholesale to other coffee distributors. You need roasting equipment to begin the roasting process, and space to store the green, raw coffee beans, but many shops have enough room in back to start this process.

I recommend: Coffee Bean Direct offers green wholesale coffee beans in many varieties. You can purchase one, or more than one to create your own custom roasted blend. Learn about the commercial coffee roasting process at Coffee Fair.

Dig into coffee wholesale by learning about the different varieties of beans available

If you decide to roast your own coffee beans, or even if you don't, you need to know what types of beans are available from wholesale coffee suppliers. There are numerous varieties of coffee beans available from growers around the world, and your wholesale coffee supplier will probably offer several different varieties to buy. So, what should you choose?

I recommend: Talk About Coffee offers a detailed look into the two types of coffee plants that produce all those beans for sale at coffee wholesalers. The Gourmet Coffee Zone offers details on quite a few of the most popular coffee bean varieties, so you can choose the right ones from your local wholesalers of coffee. Java Estate Roastery offers wholesale coffee to establishments across the country.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wholesale coffee distributors are all over the country, so make sure you know the distributor and the quality of their coffee before you order in bulk. If you can stop by their warehouse and check out their coffee, both before and after it's roasted, all the better. You want to be making the most of wholesale coffee so your patrons get the absolute best coffee available, so know your distributors and understand the nuances of coffee varieties for the best results for your coffee establishment.

With the number of cups of coffee Americans drink each day reaching a whopping 400 million (or 146 billion cups each year), restaurants, coffee shops and other food businesses are eager to find great wholesale coffee. Americans are the leading consumers of coffee, and in 2008, coffee shops grew at an average of 7% annually. Independent coffee shops generate $12 billion sales each year, and currently, there are around 24,000 coffee shops in the United States. Coffee is big business.

There are many keys to success when running a coffee shop or other coffee-serving establishment, including convenient location and excellent service. But perhaps the most important element is an excellent product. Although there is a myriad of coffee types available, while doing research into coffee distributors and wholesalers, consider the following broad categories:

1. Gourmet wholesale coffee beans and grounds

2. Decaffeinated wholesale coffee supplier products

3. Flavored wholesale coffee

4. Espresso and cappuccino blend wholesale coffee

Action Steps
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Find gourmet coffee distributors

'Gourmet' is a broad term applied to any product the manufacture considers superior. What is gourmet coffee to one person may not be gourmet coffee to another person. Use your own taste buds, as well as reviews by critics, to determine which gourmet coffees you'll offer your customers. Start by browsing well-known brands, but don't neglect lesser-known brands that might surprise you.

I recommend: Coffee Wholesale USA has a good collection of well-known gourmet coffees, including Starbucks, Emeril's and Seattle's Best. California Coffee Roasters carries Brazilian, Colombian, Costa Rican, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, African, Pacific Rim, Asian and North American coffees, including in bean form.

Locate distributors of coffee that is decaffeinated

The FDA has no authority over coffee, so the term 'decaffeinated' can be applied to nearly any type of coffee. In the United States, decaf coffee usually has between two and 13 mg. of caffeine. There are also two ways to decaffeinate coffee; one is 'The Swiss Water Process,' which is chemical-free. The other method is to use chemical solvents to remove the caffeine. Understanding the difference is important as you deal with customers and coffee wholesalers.

I recommend: Coffee & Tea Warehouse sells a variety of wholesale decaf coffees. CoffeeAM.com offers decaf coffee from every major coffee producing area of the world, including Mexico, Peru and Ethiopia.

Research suppliers of wholesale coffee that is flavored

Flavored coffee is typically made by coating coffee beans with flavored oils. However, occasionally, flavorings are added after the coffee is brewed. Research shows that vanilla, chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon and hazelnut are the most popular coffee flavors in the United States.

I recommend: Queensport Coffee Roaster offers wholesale flavored coffees, including black forest, gingerbread, pumpkin spice, hazelnut and Smores. Stone Creek Coffee also has a line of wholesale flavored coffees such as vanilla creme, caramel and hazelnut.

Discover wholesalers of coffee suitable for espresso and cappuccino

According to 1995 statistics, 2.5% of Americans drink espresso coffees. Out of American teens, 50% drink cappuccino regularly. And between 2000 to 2005, sales of cappuccino increased by 11.4%. This makes espresso and cappuccino significant parts of the coffee market.

I recommend: EspressoZone.com sells espresso blend coffee and espresso-making supplies. SpecialtyJava.com also offers espresso, including Fair Trade Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees.

Coffee wholesalers need to know their buying and selling markets as well as the processing operations of the beans. Understanding the peculiarities in buying and determining size and flavor of the coffee from each country of origin will ensure a confident and smooth buy-sell process. Special knowledge and terminology are needed for selecting packaging and roasting methods for coffee and coffee beans. This brief collection of coffee terms helps you get acquainted or refreshed with the coffee market by the lingering aroma of its presence.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cerrado

Cerrado is an up-and-coming market for coffee bean farming in Brazil.

I recommend: Where a coffee crop is grown determines the distinct flavor of that coffee. See Gillies Coffee Company for information on Cerrado and other coffee bean origins. Find this description in alphabetical order at the beginning of the C's down the page. Follow the link in the definition to the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association to learn about the history of the coffee you are about to purchase.

SWISS WATER process

The SWISS WATER process is a method of removing the caffeine from coffee. This decaffeination process uses water as the active agent and is the only chemical free method of decaffeinating.

I recommend: Visit the Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company's website for a definition of the SWISS WATER Process and see a video on the process.

Past crop

To make sure your customers receive the best coffee, avoid being the middle man for a past crop. A past crop is one that was harvested previous season. The flavor of the coffee is stale because of its age and storage length.

I recommend: Zecuppa Coffee defines past crop and supplies several other definitions that are helpful to a coffee wholesaler with the assistance of pictures beside each term.

Grand cru

'Grand cru' is the land with the best quality agricultural produce. The term is typically used for wine, tea and coffee.

I recommend: Get familiar with grand cru, a term originally derived from the wine industry, at Epicurious. The Allegro Coffee Company places a grand cru mark on coffees grown in select locations.

Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica, SCACR

The Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica or SCACR is an organization that assists with the exportation of coffee from Costa Rica.

I recommend: Coffee wholesalers can benefit from knowledge of the Specialty Coffee Association of Costa Rica and other similar associations.

Grade, excelso, supremo

The grade is roughly the size of the coffee bean and is used to categorize the beans. Two categories are excelso and supremo, the larger of the two. Grade is often used to generalize the quality of taste of the coffee.

I recommend: The glossary at CoffeeTerms.com is helpful in expressing the definition of grade and the differences between the various sizes.