Procedures

CSC does not purchase coffee, but organizes and carries out the controls necessary to guarantee its quality. To achieve this end a series of procedures are put into effect, involving all the phases of the coffee production cycle, starting with the identification of plantations in possession of specific requisites, right through to tests at the plants of the individual roasters.

Our producers must guarantee  continuity of quality

That’s why green coffee producers selected by CSC must prove:
- that they own the plantation(s) whose coffee CSC intends to certify;
- that they own the machinery used to process the harvested coffee or use companies which are either CSC certified or which hold ISO certification;
- that they themselves export the green coffee produced.
Further, the producers must also receive a positive grade from our inspectors during their periodic on-site inspections.

The Technical Commission establishes whether a coffee is “special”

For each source of green coffee the Technical Commission defines the standards of excellence necessary to obtain CSC quality certification, and also identifies the ideal areas and altitudes for cultivation, as well as the best times for shipment. Moreover the Technical Commission verifies that the quality of the green coffee from each crop complies with the established quality standards.

Producers must demonstrate the quality of their crops

Once a year our coffee producers must send a representative sample of their crop so CSC can evaluate the quality level.

Qualified tasters perform tasting “in infusion” and “in espresso”

The samples sent by the producers (Crop Samples) are forwarded to qualified tasters who perform a physical inspection as well as tasting in “infusion” and in “espresso”. Subsequently the Technical Commission examines the results of this tasting in order to verify that they conform to the standards of excellence as previously defined. Performing these two different types of tasting guarantees members that the quality standards defined in the country of origin and those defined by CSC constantly correspond.

Inspection at unloading verifies the quality of each shipment purchased by CSC Members

When an associated roaster purchases a shipment of certifiable coffee, CSC performs sampling during unloading operations. The discharge sample is then sent to the tasters who compare it with the previously tasted crop sample. If the taster confirms that the quality of the discharge sample corresponds to the representative crop sample, CSC sends the roaster a number of labels proportionate to the quantity of green coffee purchased.

Inspections at the roaster’s plant ensure the correct use of the selected coffees

In order to guarantee the quality of the product, CSC inspectors verify - at the associated roaster’s plant - that all procedure specifications have been complied with, including the correct compilation of the forms relative to the roasting, blending and packaging of the coffee.

The samples of green coffee are meticulously registered and conserved

Roasters are obliged to conserve the samples of green coffee corresponding to the blends they intend to market with the certification label until inspections take place. Each sample must be accompanied by a form indicating all the shipments of certified coffee used to prepare the parcel to which the sample refers.