The Royal Blog

Article Summary:  This article is a green coffee export review of Ecuador written for specialty coffee buyers and importers. Key topics: Ecuador produces roughly equal volumes of Arabica and Robusta, with total 2024/2025 production at 355,000 60kg bags. The country uses the U.S. dollar, resulting in higher production costs than neighboring origins; it imports more […]

Explore July 2025 Crown Jewel coffee arrivals from Sumatra, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and more. Bold flavors, innovative processing, and standout producers.

Article Summary: Green coffee has traveled a long and complex global path from its origins in Africa to modern supply chains linking farmers to roasters worldwide. History: Arabica originated in Ethiopia and South Sudan before spreading to Yemen, where commercial cultivation began in the 15th century. From there, Dutch and French colonizers carried coffee across […]

Article Summary: Fermentation is the key process shaping coffee flavor. Traditional natural and washed methods rely on microbial activity. Naturals ferment in the whole cherry, creating fruit-forward flavors, while washed coffees ferment after depulping for cleaner, brighter profiles. Poorly managed fermentation can lead to the sensory defect known as “ferment,” marked by sour or rotten […]

Article Summary: Royal Coffee’s study examines how green coffee storage conditions and moisture levels affect green coffee’s quality and flavor over time. Two coffees, a high-moisture Sumatra (15%) and a low-moisture Bolivia (8.7%), were stored in jute and Ziploc packaging under stable conditions. Results showed that coffees respond rapidly to environmental humidity: Sumatran coffee dried […]

This is a simplified version of an eBook and booklet published by Royal Coffee. Prefer to download a pdf or read the full eBook online as a flip book? Go for it! Portions of this booklet are adapted from Green Coffee: A Guide for Roasters and Buyers, available at roastmagazine.com/greencoffee. Excerpts throughout used with permission. […]

A Roaster’s Guide to Coffee Seasons   The idea that a particular crop, in our case coffee, is available and fresh for a portion of the year – is now long-ingrained in specialty coffee conversations.  Like all other fruit, coffee berries have a finite shelf life. Unlike many other drupes, we covet the seeds rather […]

After decades of exceptional service to coffee roasters in the Midwest and our team at Royal Coffee, Steve and Laura Ragsdale of Caffeinated Cargo have decided to retire. We’re grateful for all of their help over the years and hope they enjoy this next phase in their lives. For our clients in the Midwest, we […]

Getting started with a green coffee supplier can feel overwhelming and confusing. To make the process a bit easier, we answered some of the most common questions about green coffee buying.   From how to choose the best beans, and learning about the types of importers to finding the best coffee supplier and more, you will […]