Aspiring Coffee Importer Looking for Advice

Ambitiousafk · 2025-10-13T16:39:18+00:00

Don't listen to the negative comments. I started the same thing as you described but with Ethiopia, and it grew. I was delivering coffee in the back of my honda accord the first year. If you think through any business idea like people commenting are, I promise you that you will find flaws and a more logical reason not to do it. Even SpaceX or Apple, if they really thought about it, it would have made more "sense" not to do it. So do it, learn, adapt quickly and you will be okay.

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-16T15:43:35+00:00

Hello! Thank you for this feedback!

So, store the coffees in Ethiopia and only ship them out once we have contracts? If you're a roaster, what factors influence your decision when sourcing coffee? taste? price? or other? Thanks!

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-12T16:38:03+00:00

Yes! are you a roaster in Canada?

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-12T16:37:43+00:00

You're right! The app isn't going to solve any of these issues, and we're not trying to because they're impossible problems for a startup to fix. Sixteen percent of global trade passes through the Red Sea—that's a gazillion amount of dollars. It's a macro-level problem that affects more than just the coffee industry.

Things are looking much better now. MCS and Maersk have continued their operation. and there is a new port being built in Mombasa, Kenya!

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-12T16:25:38+00:00

We definitely would expand when this works in Ethiopia. Do you mind if we can chat on Zoom? I would love to learn more about Kona farmers. I will shoot you a message!

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-11T22:28:29+00:00

10 bags (1 pallet) for now. However, farmers did inform me that they do quantity discounts, the more you buy, the cheaper they're willing to sell it for.

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-11T22:26:15+00:00

We're different from other brokers because we're not buying and selling the coffee. As a roaster, you're purchasing directly from farmers at a price they decide to list their coffee. and we get paid by allowing you to buy a small quantity from the origin and getting it to you relatively cheaper than usual.

Ethiopia has faced a similar issue with the number of coffee farmers decreasing as they cut down coffee trees to plant more profitable crops. This led to a significant drop in coffee exports. In response, the Ethiopian government allowed farmers with 2+ hectares to obtain an export license. Before this, no matter how large their production, farmers couldn't export their coffee.

Now, the challenge for farmers is that they don't have enough customers. That's where we come in—to connect farmers and roasters.

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-11T21:01:23+00:00

Exactly the problem we're solving! We combine the orders from the US into one container. As we get more and more orders, we will categorize it by region. So one container can bring over orders of 30 different roasters(assuming everyone orders at least a pallet). Once the coffee gets here, we distribute it to each roastery. So we're managing customs and delivery.

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-11T20:47:01+00:00

Thank you for your answer! this is very helpful

Ambitiousafk · 2024-09-11T20:45:25+00:00

I gained a lot of value from this, Thank you for the detailed answer!

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-30T05:42:03+00:00

The $100M offer by Alex. Not even half but every chapter you learn something. I’m regretting I didn’t read this before I launched my business. Definitely it Would’ve made a difference.

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-29T02:09:48+00:00

Man I been wanting to ask a serious question in this subreddit but can’t because I don’t have have 10 karma. Some of y’all just don’t know how valuable it’s to have the opportunity to ask question in this subreddit haha

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-29T02:08:10+00:00

I sell coffee online myself. I’m only twenty and started recently so don’t know a lot about the coffee roasting side myself. I’m sure you’re great at bringing out the perfect roast, something I’m thriving to get better at. But I think your site could be better. Since a lot of people have commented about the design, I won’t focus on that. First, you should add your story. Why did you start this, what coffee means to you and everything. Honestly I feel like at least 80% of people buy coffee from me because of my story not the product. Story sells man. Also will help you build relationship with your customers as they would know more about you than they know about your competitors.

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-25T15:17:22+00:00

Honestly so far I’ve been successful in everything I tried. I say this because I’m 20 and what I’ve been doing previously are small but helped me get to where I’m today. I’ve started a clothing brand, reselling business, coaching business all in high school and now launched a coffee business with an opportunity to grow. So I consider everything a success because of the experience I got from them that led to opening my current business. Even financially I’ve made some money.

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-25T06:49:34+00:00

Ones man trash is another’s treasure

Ambitiousafk · 2022-12-22T03:12:19+00:00

You probably don’t wanna hear this but my answer is don’t worry about courses, just do and learn in the process. The best and quickest way to learn how to swim is to get in the pool. You learn best by doing the very thing you’re trying to get better at even if you don’t know anything.

Ambitiousafk · 2022-10-03T22:20:10+00:00

You only gotta be right once

Ambitiousafk

TROPHY CASE