Where Did That Charge Come From? A Roaster's Guide to Coffee Costs

The journey of your coffee from the farm, through the warehouse, and onto the roastery’s doorstep involves many hands, a tangled web of costs, and more surprises than you signed up for. This session will shine a light on the key factors that drive the final price of delivered coffee—and why it sometimes feels like things are spinning out of control.
Did your NET 30 terms suddenly vanish?
Are you getting hit with extra charges for palletization and strapping?
What about those surprise financing costs you didn’t even see coming?
If you’re a roaster working with multiple importers or distributors, you’ve probably seen it all—some give you one straightforward price per pound, while others tack on charges that make you question everything.
And let’s face it, with today’s sky-high coffee prices, the whole supply chain is feeling the squeeze. Your suppliers are trying to optimize their costs, and now it’s your turn to figure out what you’re actually paying for, what you should be paying for, and how to call out the nonsense when surprise charges show up on your invoice.
This session is here to arm roasters and coffee pros with a clearer understanding of the true cost structure of delivered coffee. You’ll walk away knowing how these high prices affect you, what’s reasonable to expect from your suppliers, and how to protect your margins while keeping everyone honest. Let’s take back control of your coffee costs—because you’re paying for more than beans.
This is a free session included with your general admission.