Coffee Supply Chain Explained: From Farm to Your Cup

Ever wondered how coffee travels from a distant farm to the cup in your hands? Understanding the coffee supply chainhelps you appreciate the care, skill, and ethics behind every brew. From smallholder farms to specialty roasters, each step shapes the flavour and quality of your coffee.

1. Coffee Farming: Where It All Begins

Coffee is grown in tropical regions near the equator, often at high altitudes in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The altitude, climate, and soil influence the bean’s sweetness, acidity, and overall flavour.

Specialty and Fairtrade coffees are usually sourced from smallholder farmers, ensuring sustainable practices and ethical livelihoods. Careful attention during flowering, harvesting, and sorting is the first step in producing a high-quality cup.

2. Processing Coffee Beans

After harvest, beans are extracted from the cherries through different processing methods:

• Washed (wet) processing: produces a clean, bright cup with delicate acidity.

• Natural (dry) processing: results in richer, fruitier notes.

• Hybrid or honey processing: creates unique flavours blending the best of both methods.

This stage is crucial for unlocking the beans’ potential before roasting.

3. Export and Trade

Once processed, green coffee beans are exported to roasters worldwide. They may pass through:

• Cooperatives and exporters who aggregate beans from multiple farmers

• Importers and brokers connecting farms to roasters

• Direct trade agreements, common in specialty coffee, which ensure transparency, traceability, and fair prices

Fairtrade certification guarantees ethical sourcing, supporting farmers and communities along the way.

4. Roasting: Transforming Green Beans

Roasting is where beans develop aroma, flavour, and body. Roasters carefully control temperature, time, and roast profiles to bring out:

• Chocolate, nut, or fruity notes

• Balanced acidity and body

• The smooth, creamy texture that makes espresso or filter coffee satisfying

At TOST Coffee & Bakehouse, slow-roasting techniques highlight the unique qualities of each bean while maintaining consistency and flavour clarity.

5. Distribution to Cafés and Retail

After roasting, coffee beans are packaged and shipped to cafés, restaurants, and retailers. Freshness is key — roast date, storage, and handling all affect flavour.

Our House Blend and rotating guest beans are selected for freshness, complexity, and balance, offering customers both classic espresso experiences and seasonal, exploratory options.

6. Brewing: The Final Step

Even the best beans need skillful brewing. Factors that affect the cup include:

• Grind size and extraction time

• Water quality and temperature

• Milk texture for espresso-based drinks

Every cup reflects the journey from farm to cup, highlighting the care of farmers, roasters, and baristas.

Why Understanding the Coffee Supply Chain Matters

Knowing the coffee supply chain isn’t just educational — it enhances your enjoyment. It shows why specialty coffee costs more, why Fairtrade matters, and why freshness, roasting, and brewing techniques make all the difference.

At TOST Coffee & Bakehouse, we celebrate this journey with every cup — from our ethically sourced House Blend to locally and internationally curated guest beans, so every sip tells a story.