How Buyers Should Read a Cambodian Coffee Lot Sheet

Short answer: A Cambodian coffee lot sheet should tell a buyer what the coffee is, where it came from, how it was processed, how it was evaluated, how much exists, and how it can be purchased. Buyers should read the document as a risk-control tool—not as marketing copy. Every major claim on the sheet should connect to the same physical lot.

Start with identity

The first section should answer:

• country;
• province/region;
• producer/group;
• harvest year;
• lot number;
• variety where known;
• processing method.

If the sheet says only “Fine Robusta Cambodia,” it is incomplete for a serious buyer.

Check whether the origin claim is precise

“Cambodia,” “Mondulkiri,” a commune, a producer group, and a named farm are different traceability levels. The lot sheet should use the most specific level the supplier can actually support.

Read the process section operationally

Do not stop at “natural” or “washed.” Look for cherry selection, fermentation where relevant, drying method, moisture target, storage, and milling information.

CQI education materials treat processing as a technical quality stage rather than a simple flavor label.

Source: https://www.coffeeinstitute.org/education/education-resources

Review physical quality separately from cup quality

A useful lot sheet may include:

• moisture;
• defect count or grading result;
• screen/size data where relevant;
• crop/milling date;
• storage condition.

These fields help the buyer evaluate roast consistency and shipment stability.

Read sensory claims carefully

If the sheet includes tasting notes or a score, ask:

• who evaluated it;
• on what date;
• using which protocol;
• whether the result belongs to this exact lot.

CQI public Q Robusta records provide a useful example because producer, region, process, moisture, defects, sensory categories, and grading details are tied to a specific sample.

Source: https://database.coffeeinstitute.org/coffee/595747

Check the quantity field

The lot sheet should distinguish between:

• current available quantity;
• total original lot size;
• already committed quantity;
• projected next-crop quantity.

These are not interchangeable.

Read sample status as carefully as the score

The document should identify whether the buyer received an offer sample, type sample, current production sample, or pre-shipment sample.

This tells the buyer how confidently the sample can be connected to the final shipment.

Commercial fields should be explicit

A buyer-ready lot sheet should include or link to:

• Moq;
• price basis;
• currency;
• Incoterm;
• packing;
• shipment window;
• payment terms;
• seller/exporter identity.

If these are absent, the document may be a quality sheet rather than a complete sales sheet.

Red flags when reading a Cambodian lot sheet

Watch for:

• score with no evaluator or lot ID;
• producer story with no traceability level;
• “current crop” with no harvest year;
• “natural process” with no drying information;
• “available” with no quantity;
• “export ready” with no exporter or shipment path;
• “direct trade” with no defined relationship;
• certification language that applies to an origin rather than a specific company, farm, or lot.

A simple buyer reading sequence

Read every Cambodian coffee lot sheet in this order:

1. Identity — what is it?
2. Origin — where exactly is it from?
3. Process — how was it produced?
4. Physical quality — is the green coffee sound?
5. Sensory quality — how does it perform?
6. Traceability — can the story be verified?
7. Availability — how much exists now?
8. Sample status — does my sample represent it?
9. Commercial terms — can I actually buy it?
10. Export responsibility — who delivers the transaction?

The buyer takeaway

A strong Cambodian coffee lot sheet should reduce the number of unanswered questions after the first contact.

The best document does not try to impress the buyer with more adjectives. It makes the coffee easier to evaluate, compare, approve, and reorder.

Faq

Is a lot sheet the same as a certificate?

No. A lot sheet is a commercial/technical summary. Certifications and official documents are separate.

Should every field be available for every lot?

Not always, but missing information should be stated clearly rather than replaced with vague claims.

What is the most important field?

Lot identity. Without it, quality, sample, quantity, and shipment information cannot be reliably connected.

Recommended internal links

• What Data Should a Fine Robusta Supplier Provide Before You Buy?
• What Quality Specifications Should Cambodian Fine Robusta Meet?
• Why Traceability Matters When Sourcing Fine Robusta from Cambodia