Buyer FAQ
Questions from roasters, cafés, and importers
The verdict
We supply both green and roasted Northern Thai coffee. Find answers about sourcing, green lot details, shipping, custom roasting, and white-label programs. If your question isn't here, send it to the team.
Direct-trade sourcing from Northern Thailand
We source Northern Thai coffee through farm relationships. Ask us for the origin and processing records available for the specific lot you are considering.
- Do you supply both green and roasted coffee?
- Yes. White Canopy supplies green coffee for buyers who roast in-house and roasted coffee through its custom roasting and white-label offerings. Share your preferred format, volume, and destination so the team can confirm the current options for your business.
- Where is your coffee grown?
- We source specialty coffee from Northern Thailand. The growing area and elevation depend on the lot. Ask for the current offer sheet and its origin details before using a specific farm or region in your own product copy.
- What does "direct-trade" actually mean for a buyer?
- Our approach is built around relationships with Northern Thai growers. The source, lot identity, traceability records, and commercial terms vary by coffee. We will explain the sourcing arrangement for the lot we propose rather than imply every lot follows the same chain.
- Can you trace a lot back to a single farm?
- Traceability depends on the lot and its available records. Tell us which details your team needs, such as the farm or grower group, processing method, and varietal. We will confirm what documentation we can provide before you commit.
- When is the harvest, and when is green coffee available?
- Harvest timing and available stock vary by farm and crop year. Ask for our current lots, quantities, and expected shipping window. We will confirm availability before accepting an order.
- How sustainable is the coffee?
- Practices differ between farms. If shade cover, land history, or grower payments matter to your sourcing policy, tell us what evidence you need. We will share what can be documented for the proposed lot rather than make a blanket claim.
- Can we visit the farms or arrange an origin trip?
- An origin visit may be possible by arrangement, depending on the farm and season. Tell us who would attend and what you hope to see, and we will check with the relevant partners before making plans.
Bean specifications: Arabica, Robusta, and processing
The technical detail roasters and QC teams ask for first — species, varietals, processing, grade, and cup profile.
- Do you supply Arabica or Robusta?
- Our program is specialty Arabica. Northern Thailand's highlands are Arabica-growing country, and that's where our quality and traceability sit. Thailand does grow lowland Robusta, largely in the south for commercial and instant markets, but it isn't part of our specialty offering. If a blend program needs Robusta we'll say so directly rather than substitute it into a specialty lot.
- What is the difference between Arabica and Robusta for my roast?
- Arabica is grown at higher altitude, has a sweeter, cleaner, more complex cup with lower caffeine, and is what specialty roasting is built around. Robusta grows at lower elevation, has a bolder, more bitter, heavier body with roughly double the caffeine, and is used mainly for instant coffee, commercial blends, and espresso crema. Our lots are Arabica selected for single-origin and specialty use.
- Which varietals do you offer?
- Varietals depend on the current lots. Share the cup profile and volume you need, and we will confirm which varietals are actually available with the corresponding lot records. We do not guarantee any named varietal without that check.
- What processing methods are available?
- Processing options depend on the current harvest and lot. Tell us whether you are looking for washed, honey, natural, or another process, and we will confirm what is available and share the lot's processing and tasting information where documented.
- What are your typical green coffee specifications?
- We do not publish one specification for every lot. Ask for the current lot's measured cup score, screen size, moisture, water activity, and defect report if those are required for your QC. We will confirm the figures we can document and any sampling arrangements before an order.
- How is the green coffee packed?
- Liner type, bag material, pack weight, and any vacuum packing depend on the lot and order. Tell us your warehouse and freshness requirements, and we will confirm the available pack format in the quote.
International shipping & logistics for importers
How coffee moves from Northern Thailand to your warehouse — Incoterms, documentation, lead times, and sampling.
Buyer guides: private label coffee for export, wholesale roasted Thai coffee, white label coffee for overseas brands, guide to buying roasted Thai coffee from overseas, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand, China and the Middle East.
- Which countries do you export to?
- We ship roasted coffee worldwide, including China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East, and we handle shipping and export paperwork. Share your destination and intended volume so we can confirm the order for your market.
- What Incoterms and shipping options do you offer?
- The Incoterm, origin point, port, and freight mode are quoted for each order. Send us your destination and volume, and we will confirm whether sea freight, consolidated freight, or air freight is practical and what responsibilities apply.
- Is there a minimum order for export?
- Small first orders are welcome. There is no published minimum that applies to every order; it depends on the coffee, your packaging and your program. Tell us the quantity you need and we will confirm it in the quote.
- What lead times should we plan for?
- Dispatch and transit times depend on stock, preparation, documents, destination, and the chosen carrier. We will give you an estimated schedule for the specific lot and route before you place an order. Please do not plan a delivery date from a general estimate here.
- What export documentation do you provide?
- On export orders we handle shipping and export paperwork. Required documents vary by destination, product and freight route, so tell us which documents your importer or customs broker needs and we will confirm them for that shipment before you order.
- Can we get samples before committing to a shipment?
- Yes. For roasted and private label coffee we send 250 g samples to your door within a week. For green coffee lots, sample arrangements depend on the lot and destination, and we will confirm them before shipping.
Private-label & OEM: MOQs, packaging, and roasting
Roasted, packaged, and ready to sell under your brand — profiles, minimums, and packaging for cafés, hotels, and retail lines.
See also: private label drip bag coffee, honey process private label coffee, airline coffee supplier, hotel amenity coffee, small first orders, custom packaging.
- Do you offer private-label and OEM production?
- Yes. We roast your coffee and our packing partner packs it under your brand, for brands, cafés, hotel groups, airlines, distributors and retail lines outside Thailand. Choose whole bean, ground or drip bag coffee, including honey process coffee, in custom packaging.
- What roast profiles can you produce?
- Custom roasting is available, but the roast profiles we can produce depend on the coffee, production setup, and your brief. Tell us your desired cup, brew method, and volume so we can confirm a workable profile and approval process.
- What is the minimum order quantity for private label?
- Small first orders are welcome. The MOQ depends on your packaging and your program. Send us your target volume and packaging brief, and we will confirm it before you plan a launch.
- What packaging options are available?
- Retail bags are usually 200 to 250 g, with larger bags including 1 kg for wholesale and distribution. Pack sizes, materials, valves, stock labels, custom printing, and bulk formats depend on the production brief and supplier availability. Tell us where the coffee will be sold and your preferred format. We will confirm the options and costs in your quote.
- Can you print our own branding and design?
- We can discuss branded packaging, but printing, label application, minimums, and artwork requirements need a project-specific check. Share your artwork and destination market so we can confirm what is feasible and which label requirements apply.
- What are the lead times for a private-label run?
- We quote production and delivery timing after reviewing the roast, quantity, pack format, artwork, and destination. Custom packaging may add time. Ask for a written schedule before setting a launch date.
- Do you supply private label drip bag coffee?
- Yes. Our packing partner packs Northern Thai coffee in drip bags under your brand for retail, hotel rooms and travel, and we ship them worldwide with shipping and export paperwork handled.
- Do you supply coffee for airlines and hotels?
- Yes. We supply roasted coffee and drip bags under your brand for airlines, hotel groups and resorts, and ship them overseas with shipping and export paperwork handled.
Still have a question?
Tell us what you're sourcing, how much you need, and where it needs to go. We'll check current lots, records, and sampling options before quoting.