Origin Travel

Origin Trips 2025

Field visits and cupping trips play a crucial role in our commitment to sourcing the finest lots, fostering producer relationships, and maintaining a strong presence throughout the entire product cycle. We travel to each origin several times a year and we love going with our customers.

During field visits, roasters can develop a deeper, more cultural connection to the coffees they buy. For those buying coffee from a specific origin or region, it is a chance to see the direct impact of your purchasing and to meet the farmers or washing station behind your coffee. It’s also an opportunity for producers to learn more about roasting and where their coffee goes. There will be time to take photos and videos that you can then use for your own marketing material.

‍On cupping trips, roasters are part of our purchasing process with exclusive access to early selections which can substantially save costs.

Some trips may blend farm visits with cupping sessions.

COULD THIS BE SOMETHING FOR YOU?

Our origin trips are for coffee professionals with green coffee purchasing responsibilities. Although such trips come with a lot of work and a busy schedule, you will be able to escape from your everyday routine, enjoy spectacular scenery, and meet the coolest people.

You will always be accompanied by one of our expert buyers or a sales representative, and we will plan the entire schedule and all transportation logistics at origin. You will need to arrange hotel bookings, flights, visas, travel insurance, and necessary vaccinations, but we will of course provide you with recommendations and necessary guidance.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PREPARE?

Generally, you will need a valid visa and a valid travel document to enter foreign countries. Check the embassy or government sites for each country you plan to visit.

Be aware of your insurance coverage—make sure it covers travel, and if not, book separate travel coverage for the duration of your trip. Also make sure your travel insurance has medical coverage (not just luggage, cancelled flights, etc.) and that it covers travel to the specific country—some companies won't cover travel to certain developing nations or areas where there may be unrest.

Make sure to be up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Check with your local doctor or government organizations (e.g. CDC for those in the USA) regarding recommended vaccinations and medications before traveling to all coffee origin countries—often, it varies depending on which regions you’ll be visiting.

UPCOMING TRAVEL PLANS

ETHIOPIA FIELD VISITS

Mid January 2025

On this trip, we will be visiting washing stations, farms, and suppliers in Guji, Yirgacheffe, Gedeb, and Sidamo. You will be accompanied by Adham Yonis, our Ethiopia Country Manager who is based in Addis Ababa. The point of this trip will be to collect insight and get a thorough understanding of the Ethiopian supply chain. Prepare yourself for an informational overload–you will learn a lot! Keep in mind that January is still early in the harvest, so any samples we cup during this time will be purely indicative of what to expect from the next crop.

Tips

Estimate a trip duration of 5-7 days.
We recommend flying to and from Addis Ababa.
Depending on scheduling, you will book your flights and possibly your first night’s stay in Addis Ababa. Note that the team can extend corporate rates in Addis Ababa.
‍If it is your first time visiting, our team can pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.
To drive to coffee growing regions, we usually fly to Hawassa or Dilla from Addis. Keep in mind that we may need to spend a night in one of these areas before driving.
We can organise accommodation bookings, but you will still cover the necessary costs.
As a daily estimate, we recommend planning for $30–50 USD to cover lunch/dinner, taxis, etc.
We will plan all transportation logistics (we usually rent a V8 Toyota Land Cruiser) and food stops whilst on the road.
Visitors to Ethiopia must obtain a visa from the official Ethiopian e-visa platform or from their nearest Ethiopian Embassy before travelling.

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KENYA & ETHIOPIA CUPPING TRIP

Mid March 2025

With the harvest wrapping up, March is an ideal time to visit Kenya and Ethiopia for cupping. On this trip, you'll actively participate in our purchasing process, cupping a diverse range of coffees with the goal of making buying decisions. You'll join our suppliers in Addis Ababa and Nairobi to cup offer samples. This means you'll have the advantage of early selections, gaining priority access to a wider variety of coffees.

Tips

Estimate a trip duration of 5-7 days.
You will organise your own flights. We will of course provide you with flight recommendations and a specific schedule to plan accordingly.
We will take care of the cupping schedule and potential warehouse or supplier visits.
We can organise accommodation bookings, but you will still cover the necessary costs.
As a daily estimate, we recommend planning for $30–50 USD to cover lunch/dinner, taxis, etc.
Again, make sure you have obtained the correct Visas for both destinations.