Profession green coffee buyer

Green coffee buyers purchase green coffee beans from producers all around the world commissioned by coffee roasters. They have a deep knowledge of the process of coffee from the fruit to the cup.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional
• Conventional / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Types of coffee beans

  Most known coffee types, Arabica and Robusta, and the cultivars under each one of those types.

• Food and beverage industry

  The respective industry and the processes involved in the food and beverage industry, such as raw material selection, processing, packaging, and storage.

• Coffee grinding levels

  The known levels are coarse grind, medium grind, medium/fine grind, fine grind, super fine grind, and turkish grind. Indication of machinery to achieve product specification. 

• Coffee characteristics

  The origins and types of coffee and the processes of coffee preparation, production and trade.

• Effects of pesticides in food raw materials

  Different types of pesticides used for food raw materials to control proper use of those substances preserving main characteristics of products.

Skills

• Analyse consumer buying trends

  Analyse buying habits or currently prevalent customer behaviour.

• Match coffee grind to coffee type

  Use different coffee grinding procedures and preparation methods.

• Apply GMP

  Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

• Evaluate coffee characteristics

  Analyse and evaluate coffee taste sensations including the coffee’s body, aroma, acidity, bitterness, sweetness, and finish.

• Educate customers on coffee varieties

  Instruct customers about origins, characteristics, differences in flavours and blends of coffee products.

• Grade coffee beans

  Grade coffee beans based on their characteristics, defects, size, colour, moisture content, taste, acidity, body, or aroma.

• Negotiate buying conditions

  Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

• Build business relationships

  Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

• Examine green coffee beans

  Examine green coffee beans ensuring that they are all approximately the same colour, shape and size. Beans of the same size will roast more evenly, whereas smaller beans may roast quicker and affect the overall taste.

• Carry out active selling

  Deliver thoughts and ideas in impactful and influencing manner to persuade customers to become interested in new products and promotions. Persuade clients that a product or service will satisfy their needs.

• Negotiate price

  Arrange an agreement on price of products or services provided or offered.

• Conduct extensive international travel

  Conducting extensive travelling around the world to performing business related tasks.

• Maintain updated professional knowledge

  Regularly attend educational workshops, read professional publications, actively participate in professional societies.

• Apply HACCP

  Apply regulations regarding manufacture of food and food safety compliance. Employ food safety procedures based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).

• Apply requirements concerning manufacturing of food and beverages

  Apply and follow national, international, and internal requirements quoted in standards, regulations and other specifications related with manufacturing of food and beverages.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB