Import Coffee from India to Germany
Alstoe India Exports supplies green Arabica and Robusta, custom-roasted and instant coffee to German importers, roasters and blending houses through a strong network of verified suppliers across Coorg, Chikmagalur and Wayanad. For the lots we supply, we provide cup scoring with the score fixed in writing, GrainPro-lined packing, EUDR geolocation data and full origin and export documentation, loaded at Mangalore, Cochin or Chennai for Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
To import coffee from India to Germany, a German buyer registers for EORI and food-business compliance and as an EUDR operator, then orders green Arabica or Robusta under HS 0901.11, which enters the EU duty free. Indian origin is EUDR low risk, so due diligence runs on the simplified track. Shipments load at Mangalore, Cochin or Chennai for Hamburg or Bremerhaven in about 22 to 28 days, on advance payment, with cup scores, ochratoxin testing and geolocation data documented for the lots supplied.
Why German roasters buy coffee from India
Germany is Europe's largest coffee importer and the heart of the continent's green coffee trade. German firms imported just over a million tonnes of green coffee from producing countries in 2024, more than a third of all coffee entering the European Union passes through Germany, and roughly 30 percent is re-exported onward. Most of it lands at the Port of Hamburg, Europe's largest coffee port and home to the world's biggest green coffee trading houses, with Bremen and Bremerhaven handling large volumes alongside. Behind the ports sit roughly 2,500 German roasters, from industrial blenders to a fast-growing specialty scene, serving a population where about nine in ten adults drink coffee.
India fits this market in a specific way. India is the world's seventh-largest coffee producer and a top-five producer of Robusta, which makes up over 70% of the crop, and Germany is consistently India's third-largest coffee market after Italy and Russia, taking about 480,000 bags in 2025. German buyers come to Indian origin for three things: natural Robusta Cherry that builds body, sweetness and thick crema in espresso blends and carries instant manufacture at volume, shade-grown washed Plantation Arabica from the Western Ghats with the low-acid balance blenders prize, and Monsoon Malabar, the monsooned specialty whose earthy, almost acid-free cup has a dedicated following among German roasters and is arranged on request in season.
The timing is also right. Indian coffee exports are accelerating, up more than a quarter in early 2026 with Robusta shipments up over a third, and under the EU Deforestation Regulation India is officially classified a low-risk origin, which entitles German operators to simplified due diligence compared with the full risk assessment demanded for standard-risk giants. For a German importer building an EUDR-ready supply base, Indian coffee with plot-level geolocation data attached is one of the cleanest files on the desk.
At Alstoe India Exports, we run the Germany lane the way German buyers audit it: grade and screen fixed to Coffee Board classification, cup scoring fixed in writing through SCA-certified Q-graders at a partner facility, GrainPro-lined packing with ochratoxin testing, and estate-level lot cards with GPS coordinates for traceable lots, with the complete Indian coffee range behind it, green, roasted and instant.
EUDR: India is a low-risk origin, and we supply the data
The EU Deforestation Regulation covers coffee placed on the EU market. Under the December 2025 revision, the main obligations apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large operators and traders, and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, and in May 2026 the Commission confirmed there would be no further postponement. India is classified low risk under the EU country benchmarking, which puts your due diligence on the simplified track. For the lots we supply, we provide plot geolocation coordinates, harvest data and the supporting file for your due diligence statement, so you are ready before the date, not after it. Reviewed July 2026.
Indian coffee grades German buyers ask for
Indian coffee is graded under the Coffee Board system by species, processing and screen size. For Germany we supply washed Arabica Plantation from AA down to C (PL AA, PL A, PL B, PL PB, PL C) and natural Robusta Cherry from AA down to C (RC AA, RC A, RC AB, RC B, RC C, RC PB), with Plantation A the blend foundation and Robusta Cherry AA the espresso-body pick. The full grade-by-grade classification, cup profiles and specialties such as Monsoon Malabar and Kaapi Royale sit on our coffee page; this page stays focused on the Germany lane. Beyond the stock range, Arabica Cherry, Robusta Parchment including Kaapi Royale and the monsooned specialties are sourced on request through the supplier network, subject to season. The current price list is shared on quote against your grade and quantity.
Green, roasted and instant at a glance
| Format | HS Code | EU Import Duty | German Coffee Tax | EUDR | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green beans | 0901.11 | Duty free | Outside the coffee tax | In scope, low-risk simplified track | One 20 ft FCL, about 18 to 20 tonnes |
| Roasted, whole bean or ground | 0901.21 | Per current EU tariff | Applies when released for consumption | In scope, low-risk simplified track | From 200 kg per roast profile |
| Instant / soluble | 2101.11 | Per current EU tariff | Applies when released for consumption | Scope being finalised by draft delegated act | From 500 kg per profile |
Duty and coffee-tax treatment is confirmed with your customs broker at the current tariff before pricing; the entries here describe the mechanism, not a rate. Green beans are the bulk of this lane; roasted and instant ship under full private label and OEM options.
Three levers that set a coffee contract's value
Green coffee is priced on specifics, and disputes happen where specifics were left loose. These are the three levers we fix in writing before a container moves.
Every lot carries its official grade code, screen size and defect tolerance, Plantation A means PL A at 17/64 inch, not "fine washed Arabica" in loose words. The grade on the invoice matches the grade in the bag.
Cup scores are issued by SCA-certified Q-graders at a partner cupping facility from composite pre-shipment samples, and the score is fixed in writing with your order. If a destination sample falls materially below it, we agree a remedy, replacement or price adjustment.
Quotes hold for a defined window, and longer contracts can be structured on transparent differentials referenced to the London Robusta and New York Arabica terminals. No surprise invoices between confirmation and bill of lading.
What Germany requires, and who handles what
Coffee into Germany is EU food import plus one German particularity, the national coffee tax, plus the EUDR layer. Here is the split between what you set up once as the importer, what happens per consignment, and what we handle from India.
Your side, set up once (German importer)
- Customs identityEORI number for EU customs
- Food businessRegistration with your local food authority
- EUDR roleOperator registration and due diligence statements in the EU system
- Coffee taxApplies to roasted and soluble coffee released in Germany; green beans are outside it
- ClearanceCustoms broker at Hamburg or Bremerhaven
Per consignment (shared)
- TariffGreen coffee, HS 0901.11, enters the EU duty free; roasted and instant per the current tariff
- EUDRDue diligence statement referencing our geolocation data, simplified track for low-risk India
- Plant healthPhytosanitary certificate where plant-health rules require it
- SafetyPesticide residues within EU limits, and ochratoxin A to your agreed specification, tested per lot
- OriginICO Certificate of Origin with every shipment
Two details German buyers appreciate having stated plainly. First, the coffee tax: Germany levies a national tax on roasted and soluble coffee released for consumption, paid on the German side, but green coffee is outside the coffee tax, so green bean importers and roasters clear it without that line item and account for the tax only when roasted product enters the German market. Second, EUDR timing: the main obligations apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large operators and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, with no further postponement confirmed in May 2026, while the precise treatment of soluble and other derived coffee products is still being finalised through a draft delegated act on product scope. On contaminants, the EU statutory maximums for ochratoxin A are 3 micrograms per kilogram for roasted coffee and 5 micrograms per kilogram for soluble coffee; green beans carry no separate statutory limit, so any green-bean figure we work to is a buyer specification.
What we hold in India
IEC from the DGFT and Coffee Board of India exporter registration, with export permits and the ICO Certificate of Origin handled per consignment. FSSAI, HACCP and ISO certifications are held across the supplier and manufacturer network.
What we test before despatch
Moisture at 10 to 12%, screen uniformity, defect count, ochratoxin A to your agreed specification and pesticide residues against EU limits at accredited labs, plus Q-grader cupping, recorded on the Quality Report and Certificate of Analysis.
What travels with the cargo
Invoice, packing list and bill of lading matched to your bank documents word for word, ICO Certificate of Origin, plant-health and, where applicable, fumigation certificates, the Quality Report with the agreed cup score, and the EUDR geolocation data pack.
Six sourcing risks and how we remove them
EUDR data gaps that block the market
From the 2026 deadline, coffee without plot-level geolocation and a valid due diligence statement cannot legally be placed on the German market, and many origins still cannot produce the data.
Low-risk origin, geolocation on the lots we ship
India is classified low risk under the EU benchmarking, so your due diligence runs on the simplified track, and the lots we supply ship with GPS plot coordinates, harvest data and the supporting file for your due diligence statement.
Pre-shipment sample cups better than the container
The classic complaint against loose suppliers: the sample roast is clean, the bulk arrival shows higher defects and a different cup, and the buyer paid for a grade they did not receive.
Composite sampling and a cup-score lock
Samples are drawn composite-style from across the container load, the Q-grader score is fixed in writing with the order, and a destination sample falling materially below it means we agree a remedy by replacement or price adjustment.
Moisture and ochratoxin trouble in transit
Coffee absorbs moisture over a three-to-four-week voyage, and a moisture spike in standard jute means mould risk and ochratoxin A findings at the German lab.
GrainPro liners and ochratoxin testing per lot
Standard packing is 60 kg jute with GrainPro hermetic liners holding moisture stable through transit, every consignment carries an ochratoxin A report from an accredited lab worked to a 5 ppb maximum on green beans, and desiccants with humidity monitoring are available for sensitive programmes.
No traceability behind retail claims
German retail and specialty programmes need estate-level provenance, and aggregated auction lots with no farm documentation cannot support single-origin claims or consumer transparency.
Estate lot cards with GPS and harvest data
Traceable lots ship with a lot card naming the estate, GPS location, altitude, cultivar mix, processing method and harvest date, with estate photos available for retail-facing programmes.
Cup score inflation that collapses at the cupping table
A supplier self-assesses a specialty score, the German roaster cups it points lower, and the relationship ends on the first container.
SCA Q-graders and independent verification
Scores come from SCA-certified Q-graders, not self-assessment, with joint video cuppings from a partner cupping facility in Karnataka or independent cupping through SGS, Bureau Veritas or your preferred lab arranged on request.
Documents that stall banking and clearance
A mismatch between the bank documents, invoice, bill of lading and certificates means bank refusals, amendments and a container waiting at Hamburg on demurrage.
One consistent set, released within 24 hours
Invoice, packing list, bill of lading, ICO origin, plant-health and, where applicable, fumigation certificates, the Quality Report and the EUDR data pack are prepared to match your bank documents word for word and shared within 24 hours of loading.
Indian coffee ports to Hamburg and Bremerhaven
| Loading Port | Serves | Discharge | Typical Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mangalore | Karnataka belts: Coorg, Chikmagalur; the main coffee gateway for Europe | Hamburg, Bremerhaven | 22 to 28 days |
| Cochin | Kerala belts: Wayanad; monsooning warehouses on the Malabar coast | Hamburg, Bremerhaven | 22 to 28 days |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu belts and consolidated lots from the east | Hamburg, Bremerhaven | 24 to 30 days |
Shipments move FOB, CFR or CIF to your preference, with insurance certificates issued on CIF terms. From Hamburg or Bremerhaven, cargo moves to bonded coffee warehousing or directly to your roastery, and documents are released early so clearance is ready when the vessel berths. Harvest timing is worth planning around: the Arabica harvest runs November to February and Robusta January to March, so fresh-crop contracts are typically fixed November to March, while Monsoon Malabar finishes monsooning and comes to market from September.
Packing matched to your operation
Materials and options: GrainPro-lined 60 kg jute is our green coffee standard for the Germany lane because it holds moisture stable across the voyage, which is the ochratoxin defence German labs care about. Roasted coffee ships nitrogen-flushed in one-way valve bags with private label artwork from 200 kg per profile; instant ships in food-grade drums, super sacks or retail formats. German and English labelling is proofed before print.
German buyer categories we support
Green Coffee Importers and Traders
Hamburg and Bremen trading houses building reliable container programmes across grades, with EUDR-ready documentation as standard.
Best fit: PL A, RC AA, full container programmesIndustrial Roasters and Blending Houses
Volume roasters needing consistent Robusta body and washed Arabica base at a stable specification, contract after contract.
Best fit: RC AB, RC B, PL B at volumeSpecialty Roasters
Germany's specialty scene sourcing traceable single-origin lots with strong cup scores and estate-level stories for the bag.
Best fit: PL AA, PL PB, Monsoon Malabar on requestPrivate Label and Instant Brands
Retail and FMCG brands needing roasted whole bean, ground or instant coffee under their own artwork, OEM end to end.
Best fit: Custom roasted from 200 kg, instant from 500 kgHow to import coffee from India
Share Requirement
Form (green, roasted or instant), grade, target cup score, quantity, discharge port and Incoterm.
Receive Quote
FOB, CFR or CIF quote within 24 hours with grade specs, cup score range, lead time and a defined pricing window.
Approve Sample
A 500 g sample is despatched by courier within 48 hours with its Quality Report, so your roaster cups and approves before you commit.
Production and QC
Composite pre-shipment sampling, Q-grader cupping with the score fixed, ochratoxin and residue testing, fumigation where required and GrainPro packing, with updates at every milestone.
Despatch and Documents
Loading at Mangalore, Cochin or Chennai with the full document set, including the EUDR data pack, shared within 24 hours of loading.
Documentation, by requirement
Not every certificate applies to every format or route. Here is how the paperwork splits between what customs requires, what buyers usually ask for, and what we add on request or by Incoterm.
Legally required for import
Commercial Invoice and Packing List
Prepared to match your bank documents word for word for payment and customs
Bill of Lading
Ocean transport document issued at the loading port
Certificate of Origin (ICO)
International Coffee Organization origin certification for the consignment
EUDR Due Diligence Data
Plot geolocation coordinates and harvest data supporting the operator's due diligence statement in the EU system
Normally requested by buyers
Quality Report
Cup score as agreed, screen, defect count and grade verification
Certificate of Analysis
Moisture, ochratoxin A to your specification and pesticide residues, accredited-lab tested
Coffee Board Registration
Exporter registration and export permit compliance for the consignment
Provided on request or by route and terms
Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued by Plant Quarantine India where plant-health rules or the buyer require it
Fumigation Certificate
When fumigation is applied or required for the route
Insurance Certificate
Issued on CIF shipments
Third-Party Inspection
SGS, Bureau Veritas or your nominated agency, arranged on request
Sample documents on request: we can share a redacted Certificate of Analysis, an example lot specification and a sample EUDR data record so your team can pre-check formats before placing an order.
Request a Germany coffee export quote
Share your requirement and we respond within 24 hours with suitable grades, cup score ranges, packing and port recommendations, and clear commercial next steps.
Germany coffee import questions, answered
Is Indian coffee EUDR compliant for the German market?
India is classified a low-risk origin under the EU Deforestation Regulation's country benchmarking, which puts German operators on the simplified due diligence track and lets micro and small primary operators file a one-time simplified declaration. Compliance still requires plot-level geolocation data and, for operators placing coffee on the market, a due diligence statement in the EU system. The main obligations apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large operators and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, with no further postponement confirmed in May 2026. For the lots we supply, we provide GPS plot coordinates, harvest data and the supporting file for your statement.
What duty applies on coffee imports into Germany from India?
Green coffee under HS 0901.11 enters the European Union duty free. Roasted and instant coffee attract duty per the current EU tariff, confirmed with your customs broker before pricing. Separately, Germany levies a national coffee tax on roasted and soluble coffee released for consumption, which is accounted for on the German side; green beans are outside the coffee tax.
Which Indian coffee grades suit German roasters best?
From our stock range, Robusta Cherry AA and AB carry espresso body, crema and instant volume, with RC B and C serving industrial blends. On the Arabica side, Plantation A is the blend foundation, Plantation AA and Peaberry serve specialty programmes, and Plantation B and C cover commercial lines. Washed Robusta Parchment including Kaapi Royale and the monsooned Malabar specialties are arranged on request through the network.
What is Monsoon Malabar and why is it popular in Germany?
Monsoon Malabar AA is natural Arabica exposed to monsoon winds on India's Malabar coast for 12 to 16 weeks, during which the beans swell, turn pale gold and develop a uniquely bold, earthy, almost acid-free cup. German roasters and drinkers who find standard origins too bright have made it one of India's best-known specialties in the market. It comes to market from September after the monsooning season and is supplied on request through the network, subject to season.
How is quality verified before shipment?
Composite samples are drawn from across the container load, cupped by SCA-certified Q-graders, and the score is locked in writing with your order confirmation. Moisture, screen uniformity, defect count, ochratoxin A and pesticide residues are tested at accredited labs and recorded on the Quality Report and Certificate of Analysis. Independent cupping or inspection through SGS or Bureau Veritas is arranged on request.
How do you protect coffee against ochratoxin A on the voyage to Germany?
Ochratoxin risk comes from moisture movement during the three-to-four-week transit. Our standard packing is 60 kg jute with GrainPro hermetic liners that hold internal moisture stable, and every consignment carries an ochratoxin A report from an accredited lab, worked to a 5 ppb maximum on green beans as our standard. The EU statutory maximums apply to roasted (3 micrograms per kilogram) and soluble (5 micrograms per kilogram) coffee; green beans have no separate statutory limit, so this figure is a buyer specification. Desiccant packs with humidity monitoring are available for sensitive programmes.
What is the minimum order quantity?
For green beans, one 20 ft FCL of approximately 18 to 20 tonnes, loaded as 60 kg GrainPro-lined jute bags. Roasted coffee runs from 200 kg per roast profile and instant from 500 kg per profile, both with full private label and OEM options. Trial and LCL structures can be discussed for first orders.
How long does shipping take from India to Germany?
Typically 22 to 28 days from New Mangalore or Cochin to Hamburg or Bremerhaven, and 24 to 30 days from Chennai, depending on routing. Documents are released within 24 hours of loading so clearance is ready when the vessel berths.
Can you supply organic or certified sustainable coffee for Germany?
Yes. EU Organic certified lots can be sourced on request, primarily from Araku Valley and select Wayanad and Coorg estates with the full certificate chain, on longer lead times. Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certified lots can be arranged for retail-facing programmes, and the lots we supply ship with estate-level traceability and EUDR geolocation data where available.
How do I verify an Indian coffee exporter before ordering?
Check the IEC and Coffee Board of India registration, ask how cup scores are issued and whether they are locked in writing, how the exporter handles EUDR geolocation data, and whether every lot ships with an ochratoxin report and ICO Certificate of Origin. Cup a physical sample first, and start with a single container before scaling the programme.
Sources and last reviewed
Regulatory and market statements on this page are drawn from official and industry sources and reviewed periodically, since EU rules and trade figures change. Last reviewed July 2026 by the Alstoe India Exports export desk.
Ready to source Indian coffee for Germany?
Share the form, grade, target cup score, quantity and discharge port. We respond within 24 hours with a detailed quotation, sample availability within 48 hours, and clear commercial next steps. Orders on advance payment.