european specialty coffee roasters ship to the usa through dhl express. expect customs duties, 5 to 10 day transit, and roast-date freshness challenges.
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european specialty coffee roasters ship to the usa primarily through dhl express, with customs duties and food import taxes applied at delivery based on coffee value and weight. transit times range from 5 to 10 business days depending on origin country and customs clearance speed, which means you're receiving beans 7 to 14 days post-roast at best.
the logistics challenge is real: roasted coffee is classified as a food product requiring proper labeling, customs declaration, and compliance with fda import regulations. your local customs agent collects duties before delivery, and some european roasters charge 0% vat on non-eu shipments while others include it upfront and refund later. duty rates on roasted coffee into the usa typically fall between 0% and 5% of declared value, with additional state and local handling fees varying.
finding european roasters willing to handle international logistics is harder than it should be in 2026. many specialty roasters focus exclusively on domestic or eu markets because of shipping complexity and cost.
the uk has several established exporters. Origin Coffee (Charlotte Road) in london ships internationally and maintains detailed customs documentation. Ozone Coffee in shoreditch also handles overseas orders, though their shipping page requires careful reading about duty responsibilities. NextDayCoffee in motherwell, scotland offers international delivery with clear upfront shipping quotes. Mancoco Coffee Bar & Roastery in manchester ships to the usa but requires email confirmation for large orders over 2kg.
germany's Flying Roasters in berlin ships globally through their online shop, with dhl express tracking and english-language support. their checkout calculates estimated duties, though the final amount depends on your state.
italian roasters are trickier. Sansone Coffee Artisan Microroastery & Specialty Coffee in naples ships within the eu readily but requires direct contact for usa inquiries. many italian micro-roasters avoid the hassle entirely.
the netherlands has responsive shippers. manhattan coffee roasters in amsterdam (not directory-listed but worth mentioning) explicitly states on their shipping page that they charge 0% sales tax outside the eu and that dhl will collect your local tax and import duty before delivery. they warn customers to understand their country's duty regulations and maximum order amounts.
when your coffee arrives at a usa port of entry, customs and border protection classifies it under hts code 0901.21 (roasted coffee, not decaffeinated) or 0901.22 (roasted coffee, decaffeinated). the duty rate is typically zero for coffee itself, but you'll pay:
roasted coffee avoids the agricultural quarantine inspection fee because it's processed, not raw. you will not pay the 10% to 25% tariffs applied to some food categories.
dhl express handles the customs clearance as your broker. they pay duties upfront, then collect from you before final delivery (usually via automated payment link). if you refuse to pay, your coffee sits in a warehouse and eventually gets abandoned or returned at your expense.
packages under $800 qualify for de minimis entry, which simplifies paperwork but doesn't eliminate sales tax in most states. this threshold makes single-bag orders easier than bulk purchases.
this is the hard question. specialty coffee from europe takes 5 to 10 business days in transit, plus the day the roaster packs it, plus any weekend gaps. you're realistically looking at 10 to 14 days between roast and brew.
most specialty roasters recommend consuming coffee within 14 to 28 days of roasting for peak flavor, with the sweet spot around 7 to 14 days post-roast. your european order arrives right at the end of the ideal window.
some solutions:
the reality: if you're ordering european coffee for convenience, don't. the best coffee roasters in the usa offer equivalent quality with 2 to 4 day delivery. order from europe because you specifically want that rwandan natural from a berlin roaster who has a direct relationship with that farm, or because you're chasing a specific ethiopian heirloom varietal that uk importer has exclusive access to.
european roaster websites vary wildly in clarity. follow this sequence:
roasters who ship internationally regularly will answer these questions quickly with specific information. vague responses or long delays mean they rarely handle usa orders and you'll likely face problems.
some european roasters use shopify with apps that auto-calculate international shipping but don't account for customs delays or freshness degradation. the checkout might offer 5 to 7 day delivery, but that's dhl's service level, not actual door-to-door time after customs.
expect this breakdown for a single 250g bag:
that's $136 to $308 per kilogram delivered, compared to $45 to $85 per kilogram from premium domestic roasters. the economics only make sense for special releases, competition lots, or roasters with exclusive importer relationships.
ordering 1kg brings per-unit costs down:
still expensive, but more justifiable. just make sure you have a plan for that much coffee before it ages past prime.
for most people, no. the american specialty coffee scene has matured dramatically. domestic roasters source from the same exporters, often with better supply chain transparency and definitely with faster delivery.
order from europe when:
skip european ordering if you're just exploring specialty coffee or want reliably fresh beans. dozens of excellent roasters operate domestically with better logistics.
the uk's post-brexit position actually helps usa buyers slightly: british roasters now handle non-eu exports routinely and have streamlined processes. german and dutch roasters also maintain sophisticated international shipping. southern and eastern european roasters lag behind on logistics infrastructure.
one final note: some european roasters attend sca events or send representatives to usa coffee festivals. buying directly at these events eliminates shipping costs and customs delays entirely, though you're limited to what they brought with them. if you know a roaster will be at a festival you're attending, email ahead to request they bring specific lots.
the core question isn't whether european roasters ship to the usa (they do), but whether the freshness compromise and cost premium serve your actual coffee goals. be honest about whether you're chasing quality, exclusivity, or just the appeal of an international order.
Key takeaway: Roasted coffee enters the USA at 0% duty under HTS code 0901.21, but you will pay a merchandise processing fee starting at $27.75 plus state sales tax collected by DHL at delivery.
Roasted coffee itself carries a 0% duty rate in the USA, so you avoid the big tariffs. You will still pay a merchandise processing fee of 0.3464% of shipment value, minimum $27.75, plus any state sales tax your state requires, which DHL collects before handing over your package.
Transit times run 5 to 10 business days depending on origin country and how quickly customs clears the shipment. In practice, you are receiving beans 7 to 14 days post-roast at best, which is worth factoring in if you prefer very fresh roasts.
UK roasters including Origin Coffee, Ozone Coffee, NextDayCoffee, and Mancoco ship to the USA. Germany's Flying Roasters in Berlin ships globally with English-language support. Italian micro-roasters often avoid international shipping, though Sansone Coffee in Naples can be contacted directly for USA orders.
EU VAT rules allow roasters to zero-rate exports leaving the EU, so you are not paying European sales tax on top of your own country's import tax. Some roasters remove VAT automatically at checkout, while others charge it upfront and issue a refund after confirming the shipment has left EU territory.
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