What Documents Are Needed to Import Coffee into the United States?

“Every single day, the U.S. imports enough coffee to brew more than 400 million cups. That’s how deep the nation’s love for coffee runs.” If you want your pallet of coffee to be part of that number, paperwork is your passport. Get it wrong, and your coffee sits in customs. Get it right, and your beans move smoothly from origin to roastery.

Here’s exactly what you’ll need when importing a pallet of coffee (about 9 sacks / 693 lbs) into the U.S.: 

1. Customs and Importer Documents

• CBP Form 5106: Registers your business with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• DUNS Number: A unique business identifier often requested by exporters and required by some customs processes. You can obtain it for free from Dun & Bradstreet.
• EIN (Employer Identification Number): Issued by the IRS, this number is necessary for U.S. businesses to import goods and is used on customs forms.

2. Exporter and Shipping Documents

• Commercial Invoice: Lists the product, value, and terms of sale.
• Packing List: Details shipment contents (number of sacks, weights, etc.).
• Bill of Lading / Airway Bill: Issued by the carrier as the transport contract.
• FDA Prior Notice: Mandatory FDA filing for any food product entering the U.S.

3. A Few Pro Tips

• Shipments of green coffee typically require just these documents; FDA registration number of the importer is still smart to have but not always required.
  
• Work with an exporter who knows the system, they’ll prepare most of this for you, while you just provide importer details.

Takeaway:

A smooth import comes down to the right documents. Keep your CBP registration, DUNS and EIN number on your side. Make sure your exporter delivers a clean invoice, packing list, prior notice and certificates on theirs. That’s it, you’re cleared for coffee.