What is the spot price in coffee trading?

The spot price is the current market price for coffee available for immediate purchase and delivery - what you pay right now for coffee that exists today, as opposed to a futures contract for coffee to be delivered at a future date. In commodity trading, "spot" means the transaction settles immediately rather than at a specified future point.

In green coffee, spot price is closely tracked alongside the C-Market futures price. The two are related but not identical - the spot price reflects actual supply and demand for physical coffee available now, while futures reflect market expectations about future prices. During periods of tight supply or strong demand, the spot price can trade at a premium to nearby futures; during oversupply, it may trade at a discount.

For roasters and importers, understanding the distinction between spot price and futures price matters when evaluating offers. An importer quoting a price for coffee sitting in a UK warehouse is quoting a spot price. An importer quoting for a Colombian harvest that hasn't shipped yet is building a price from futures plus differential plus freight. The two involve different risk profiles - spot is immediate and certain; futures-linked pricing fluctuates until the coffee is fixed or delivered.