What does conventional mean in coffee trading?

Conventional simply means not certified organic. That's the entire distinction - it says nothing about how the coffee was actually farmed. Conventional coffee may be grown using intensive synthetic inputs on a sun-grown monoculture, or it may be produced thoughtfully by a farmer who simply hasn't pursued certification.

The term comes up most in the context of certification pricing. Organic coffees command a premium over conventional equivalents, and when a certified lot loses its status - due to lapsed auditing, prohibited input use, or administrative failure - it reverts to conventional pricing.

For specialty buyers prioritising quality and traceability, conventional versus organic is less relevant than origin, processing, and farm-level practices. Many of the world's most interesting coffees are produced by uncertified farmers. Certification and quality are worth evaluating independently.