There’s something special about cozying up to a warm fire with a cup of flavored coffee during the holiday season. Importers know this and that’s why they are staying caffeinated and working hard this time of year to import coffee beans to the United States. Grab a hot Cup of Joe and follow our road map to importing flavored coffee.
In 2015, the U.S. led the coffee import charts with $6 billion worth of coffee imports purchased.
Today’s U.S. consumers crave fresh gourmet coffee beans. Flavored coffee and holiday blends are made by adding flavored oils to the beans after they are roasted and before the beans are ground up. Four major flavored coffee categories that are broken down to create a variety of coffee flavors include:
U.S. consumers love a good flavored coffee fix. In 2015, the U.S. led the coffee import charts with $6 billion worth of coffee imports purchased, which is a 20.1 percent share of the global import market for coffee in the world. In 2015, world coffee imports totaled $30 billion. Here is a list of the top 10 coffee importers based on their global import purchase percentages:
Brazil tops the export list, exporting 9 million tons of coffee in 2015.
Did you think Colombia coffee ambassador Juan Valdez’ country was the top exporter of coffee worldwide? While Colombia makes the list at a very respectable third place, Vietnam and Brazil export more coffee than Colombia. Here’s a look at the top 10 coffee bean exporters of 2015:
Make sure the following is done to expedite your coffee import process:
Here’s a CBP cheat sheet for coffee importing.
Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be inspecting your beans. FDA guidelines mandate that samples of your coffee beans are based on the following guidelines.
Inspections can result in additional charges if:
There is no set limit on the amount of flavored coffee you can import into the U.S.
There is no set limit on the amount of flavored coffee, tea and spices you can import into the U.S. Even better news for coffee importers? Most coffee whole bean imports are duty, or tax, free. Merchandise processing fees and harbor maintenance fees still apply though.
There is one exception to the duty-free rule. Any coffee that contains sauces, syrup or soups are subject to inspections, restrictions and special duties, or taxes. If your seasonal coffee contains any of these items, you should consult closely with a Licensed Customs Broker to help you move through the import process.