Coffee Glossary · Trade
Differentials (Price Basis)
How most coffee is priced: as a premium or discount ('differential') against the futures markets — New York's Arabica 'C' contract or London's Robusta contract — reflecting a specific origin, grade, and quality's standing versus the deliverable standard. 'NY C +40' means 40 cents/lb over the C price at fixation. Differentials move with origin supply and reputation independently of the futures level; specialty micro-lots increasingly price outright (fixed) instead, decoupling quality coffee from commodity volatility.
Related terms
The C Market (Coffee Futures)
The ICE 'Coffee C' futures contract — washed Arabica, quoted in US cents per pound — coffee's global…
FOB (Free On Board)
The most common green-coffee Incoterm: the seller's price covers everything up to and including loading the…
SCA Score (Specialty Grade)
The 100-point cupping score under Specialty Coffee Association protocol, summing graded attributes; 80 points…
Bill of Lading (B/L)
The ocean shipment's master document, issued by the carrier: simultaneously a receipt for the cargo, evidence…
Cash Against Documents (CAD)
A documentary collection payment method lighter than a letter of credit: the exporter ships, then routes the…
Crop Year / Fresh Crop / Past Crop
Coffee's vintage system: each origin's harvest defines its crop year (Laos: roughly October–September), and…
Reading up before buying? Volcana Coffee exports SGS-inspected specialty Arabica and Fine Robusta from the Bolaven Plateau, Laos — and we're happy to walk new importers through every term on a real offer sheet.
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