Finding Coffee Suppliers

Sunday, August 20, 2006

To find a coffee supplier, you must first decide what kinds and how much Coffee you want. Knowing what you are looking for is very important. Once you know that, become an educated shopper and find out every detail you can about that type of coffee. Once you have done this, you can begin to look for suppliers. Make sure to compare the prices of what you want from several different suppliers.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find coffee suppliers. Talk to people you know who sell coffee and ask them whom they use as a supplier. If you do not know anyone who sells coffee, try asking local restaurants, coffee houses, and coffee shops. If they are your competitors they might not tell you, but it never hurts to ask.

Searching online is another great way to find coffee suppliers, but it is important to research the supplier. Look online for reviews, or if you know anyone who has used that supplier before, ask them about it. When finding suppliers online, calling the supplier and talking to an actual person is a good idea.

If you are going to be doing big business with a supplier, you may want to arrange a personal visit - and a formal tasting - if possible. If not, try to get samples of the product or place a small order before deciding. Either way, you will find out what their customer service is like, and what their product actually tastes like. You should investigate several different suppliers before making a choice. Even if you really like one supplier, you may find another you like even better, so keep your options open.

When choosing a supplier, the most important things to look for are knowledge, experience, and quality products. Do not be afraid to ask suppliers how long they have been in business and any other questions you may have about the company and their product.

Even once your decisions are made, you do not have to focus on one supplier. You might buy different types of coffee from different suppliers, or you might buy different amounts of the same coffee from different suppliers. The most important thing is to find a coffee supplier or suppliers that work for you. You have to find the suppliers that are just the right balance of cost, quality, and customer service for your company; and that balance may be different for everyone.