Cambodia Robusta Supplier Audit Checklist for Green Coffee Buyers

Buying green coffee from a new origin is not only a cupping decision. A buyer also needs to know whether the supplier can repeat the quality, document the lot, prepare export paperwork, and communicate clearly when something changes. For Cambodia Robusta, a simple supplier audit can prevent most first-order problems before money or inventory is committed.

1. Confirm the supplier’s role

Start by asking whether the company is a farm, processor, collector, exporter, or trading company. The answer affects traceability and control. A supplier that owns or directly manages processing should be able to explain where cherries come from, how lots are separated, and who controls drying and storage.

1. Check lot traceability

Request the crop year, production area, processing method, lot code, harvest window, and storage location. The goal is not paperwork for its own sake. These details allow the buyer to compare the approved sample with the coffee that is eventually shipped.

1. Review quality-control routines

Ask how moisture, defects, screen size, sensory quality, and storage conditions are checked before export. Buyers should define their own acceptance limits rather than assume every supplier uses the same standard. A credible supplier should be comfortable discussing what happens when a lot falls outside specification.

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1. Test communication before the order

A supplier audit also includes response quality. Send a realistic request for quotation and note whether the answer includes origin, process, available quantity, sample terms, pricing basis, lead time, packaging, and payment terms. Vague answers before an order usually become larger problems after an order.

1. Verify export readiness

Before issuing a purchase order, confirm who handles export documents, freight coordination, phytosanitary or origin documents when required, and final shipment communication. The exact document set depends on the destination country, so the buyer should verify local import requirements independently.

A practical supplier audit does not need to be complicated. It should answer three questions: Can this supplier describe the coffee clearly? Can the supplier reproduce the approved quality? Can the supplier execute the commercial transaction reliably?

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https://origincafekh.com/