What is allocation in green coffee buying?

Allocation refers to the quantity of a specific green coffee lot that a seller has designated for a particular buyer. When a highly sought-after coffee - a top-scoring micro-lot, a celebrated washing station's limited release, or a new-crop arrival from a popular origin - is in limited supply, the importer or exporter allocates a fixed quantity to each buyer rather than selling on a first-come basis.

Allocation matters because demand for premium specialty green coffee often exceeds supply. A washing station producing 30 bags of an exceptional lot may have relationships with 15 importers, each of whom has buyers wanting more than their fair share. Allocations are typically based on relationship history, forward commitment, and volume - buyers who have consistently taken coffee from a particular importer, committed early, and purchased reliably tend to receive better allocations than occasional buyers.

For new roasters, understanding allocation explains a common frustration: finding a coffee you want and being told there isn't enough for you. Building relationships with importers before you need specific coffees - cupping regularly, giving feedback on samples, committing to purchases even in smaller volumes - is how you move up the allocation priority list over time. The best allocations go to the buyers importers know and trust.