What does transparency mean in specialty coffee sourcing?

Transparency in coffee sourcing refers to the open disclosure of pricing, supply chain information, and producer relationships across the value chain. A transparent sourcing model publishes what was paid at each stage - farm gate price, FOB price, and ideally the roaster's margin - so that producers, buyers, and consumers can assess whether value is being distributed fairly.

The transparency movement in specialty coffee has been driven by roasters who recognised that "direct trade" and "relationship sourcing" claims needed verifiable backing. Publishing full price breakdowns, sharing audit results, and naming individual producers by name rather than just country or region are all expressions of sourcing transparency.

For buyers sourcing green coffee, transparency matters in both directions. Understanding what you paid versus what reached the producer tells you something about the supply chain you're participating in. And being able to communicate that chain accurately to your own customers - roasters selling to cafes, or cafes selling to consumers - is increasingly expected in a market where provenance and ethics are purchase drivers, not optional extras.