What is a type sample in green coffee?

A type sample is a non-representative sample - meaning it doesn't correspond to a specific lot available for purchase. It's used to show the style or character of coffees a supplier typically works with, rather than to describe a specific parcel you're being offered.

In practice, you might receive a type sample at the start of a new importer relationship: "this is the kind of Ethiopian washed we carry" or "here's a typical lot from our Honduran partners." It sets expectations and establishes a flavour reference without committing either party to a transaction.

In long-term, high-trust relationships, type samples are sometimes used as a shorthand for larger volume commitments - a way of saying the coffees you'll be receiving will be in this style and range, rather than cupping every individual parcel before contracting. Useful context, but not a substitute for a pre-shipment sample when the stakes are higher.