A coffee bean is the seed of the coffee plant (the pit inside the red or purple fruit). Even though they are seeds, they are referred to as 'beans' because of their resemblance. The fruits, coffee cherries or coffee berries, most commonly contain two stones with their flat sides together. In a crop of coffee, a small percentage of cherries contain a single bean, instead of the usual two. This is called a pea berry. Coffee beans consist mostly of endosperm that contains 0.8 - 2.5 % caffeine, which is one of the main reasons the plants are cultivated.

There are two methods of processing the coffee berries. The first method is wet processing, which is usually carried out in Central America and areas of Africa. The flesh of the berries is separated from the seeds and then the seeds are fermented – soaked in water for about two days. This dissolves any pulp or sticky residue that may still be attached to the seeds. They are then washed and dried in the sun or in the case of commercial manufacturers, in drying machines.

The dry processing method is cheaper and simpler, used for lower quality seeds in Brazil and much of Africa. Twigs and other foreign objects

are separated from the berries and the fruit is then spread out in the sun on cement or brick for 2–3 weeks, turned regularly for even drying. The dried pulp is removed from the seeds afterward.After processing has taken place, the husks are removed and the seeds are roasted, which gives them their varying brown color, and they can then be sorted for bagging.

There are three coffee shrub varieties of commercial importance:Coffea Arabica: the Arabian shrub, being a "highland coffee", having a greenish to blue-green color and strong full flavor; caffeine content of approx. 1.2%.

Coffea Robusta: the Robusta coffee shrub, being a "lowland" coffee, having small, roundish beans which are generally brownish to yellow green colored; caffeine content of approx. 2.3%.

Coffea Liberica: the Liberian coffee shrub, being a lowland coffee, of which the beans are larger than of the Arabica coffee, but are regarded inferior to the Arabica shrub because of the sharp flavor.

In addition to these varieties, a distinction can also be made between 'unwashed' and 'washed' green coffee beans, the latter generally involving coffee beans of higher quality grade, but also more susceptible to moisture damage due to their hygroscopicity.

COFFEE BEAN

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Specialty Grade Green Coffee: Specialty green coffee beans have no more than 5 full defects in 300 grams of coffee. No primary defects are allowed. A maximum of 5% above or below screen size indicated is tolerated. Specialty coffee must possess at least one distinctive attribute in the body, flavor, aroma, or acidity. Must be free of faults and taints. No quakers are permitted. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

Premium Coffee Grade:Premium coffee must have no more than 8 full defects in 300 grams. Primary defects are permitted. A maximum of 5% above or below screen size indicated is tolerated. Must possess at least one distinctive attribute in the body, flavor, aroma, or acidity. Must be free of faults and may contain only 3 quakers. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

Exchange Coffee Grade:Exchange grade coffee must have no more than 9-23 full defects in 300 grams. It must be 50% by weight above screen size 15 with no more than 5% of screen size below 14. No cup faults are permitted and a maximum of 5 quakers are allowed. Moisture content is between 9-13%.

Below Standard Coffee Grade: 24-86 defects in 300 grams.

Off Grade Coffee:More than 86 defects in 300 grams.

Primary Defects are full black, full sour, pod/cherry, large/medium stones, and large/medium sticks.

Secondary Defects are parchment, hull/husk, broken/chipped, insect damage, partial black, partial sour, floater, shell, small stones, small sticks, water damage.

The raw coffee bean colorThere are many factors within the stage of picking, drying, milling and grading that can affect the outcome of green bean color, and also the quality. Major colors found in caffeinated green beans include:• Grayish-blue• Grayish-green• Brownish-gray-green• Brownish-green• BrownNote: These colors are those typically used in international standard classification descriptions.

COFFEE GRADING (SCAA METHOD)

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SHIPMENT / STORAGE

WATER DAMAGE

Coffee beans are sensitive to moisture and are hence shipped in woven bags made from natural fiber, which allows free circulation of air. These bags are vulnerable to hook and handling damage. Woven polypropylene bags have been available for considerable time now but their usage for imports of green coffee is limited and is not acceptable unless special arrangements have been made between buyers and sellers. Their smooth surface tends to make them slip in the stack and although they are more resistant to light external wetting, they do absorb heavy moisture, thus allowing the water to penetrate to the centre of the coffee, whereas the fiber bags tend to hold water at the surface, thus confining damage to the outer layer of beans. Most types of polypropylene bags do not produce a positive stain on being wetted and the close flat weave does not permit the same air circulation as the fiber bag.

Coffee beans and the fiber bags in which they are packed readily become tainted by proximity to strong smelling goods. It is necessary to distinguish between coffee which has been so contaminated and fermented coffee which may produce a strong aroma. Coffee beans are subject to loss in weight, normally accepted as 0.5%, but varying between shipments. This problem is overcome by comparing the weights of torn or damaged bags with the average weights of sound bags rather than with their shipped weights.

Wet damaged bags will normally exhibit external staining with associated mould damage, discoloration or bleaching of the beans under the area of the stain. Where the damage to the content is limited to beans near the surface of

There are other colors found outside the acceptable range. These include blue beans which are usually the result of high moisture content caused by under-drying and, instead of roasting, will bake, resulting in a very flat cup. Yellowish beans are also outside the boundaries of acceptable beans.

Coffee beans must be hard and not spongy (especially washed coffee beans), i.e. no trace should be left if a finger nail is pushed into the beans. Clean processing is indicated by gloss and smoothness of the coffee beans.

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Where containers are involved, the same criteria apply as above but special attention should be applied to the position of the damaged bags relative to the doors, roof and vents of the container. Wherever heavy damage is involved it is of utmost importance to establish the condition of the container on arrival and check for holes in the roof, defective door seals and other damage.

Country DamageA term commonly given to damage which occurs in the country of origin prior to the bagging of the beans. It is sometimes possible to prove country damage by establishing that the damaged beans are scattered at random through the bags which will probably show no signs of external staining. However, it is necessary to appreciate that light transit damage may give a similar effect where the bags have received considerable handling subsequent to being wetted.

Indonesian Natural (Unwashed) CoffeeThere may be white or dark brown beans mixed in this coffee, being a characteristic of the commodity. Another characteristic of this coffee is a leguminous and earthy smell which is due to the climate, the condition of the soil and

the bags in the area of the stain, it is often possible to recondition these bags, re-bagging the sound content in clean bags and selling off the extracted moldy beans. Although this involves the expense of reconditioning, it is often more profitable than selling the bags as lying. A simple chemical test on a section of the bag fabric will determine whether the wetting agent was sea or fresh water. Lightly rain-wetted bags, especially at the point of loading, often show a slight yellowing of the bag surface with small areas of mildewed beans immediately below the surface. Long standing severe wet damage can give rise to black, rotting bag fibers with solid coagulations of moldy beans below the surface. This may either be associated with a heavy wet damage at the time of loading or excessive sweat damage due to condensation in the hold at the early stages of a long voyage. Only experience and observation can establish whether pre-shipment or transit damage is involved. In the event of water damage being detected with break-bulk (non-container) shipments it is vital that the hold condition be established as early as possible, namely the position of the damaged bags in relation to the coffee cube in general e.g., in the upper, lower or extreme sides of the cube and the position relative to hatch openings and air vents.

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Agreement. Almost all producing countries together with the major consuming countries are members. Under the Agreement, export quotas may be established and are controlled by the necessity of providing specific documentation upon import into consuming member countries. Where coffee is to be sold by salvage sale, it is important to ascertain which, if any, documentation is available as this may affect the residual value. This is particularly relevant to coffee lying in free ports.

Shipping AdviceCoffee is normally shipped as green beans and is prone to water absorption and desorption. Coffee is packaged in hessian/jute/poly lined bags or in bulk inside containers. In the latter mode a plastic inner liner is fitted into the container to hold the bulk for sanitary reasons. Condensation damage, taint and infestation are the main risks associated with carriage and loss of quality. It is essential that containers are properly prepared in order to achieve good quality transport out-turns as follows:

Coffee in BagsIn GP containersFloors and side walls to be covered with corrugated kraft-paper, cardboard, or a double layer of single paper. Special care required at container corners. Corrugation ribbing (rough side) must face the container walls, on floor and sides, except on top and facing the door where reverse applies. Depending on the season and transit route desiccants should be added for condensation control.

In Open SidesCare must be taken to ensure that side curtains are rolled down when on the terminal or on inland transport. Stowage onboard ship must be under deck and with the curtains rolled up. No paper is to be placed on the floor as moisture is easily absorbed in this environment. Wooden gratings or pallets must be placed on the floor to avoid possible moisture damage to the bottom bags (only seasoned wood is to be used).

humidity in the atmosphere. This smell is similar to the musty odor of water damaged coffee but in the case of Indonesian Natural Unwashed Coffee this Odour is not, itself, evidence of water damage.

Decaffeinated CoffeeThis is treated coffee which is now being exported around the world. The natural appearance of this coffee is of a blotchy nature and due to the relatively low moisture content; it is of a brittle nature. Care should be taken when surveying or examining such coffee to distinguish between actual damage and the natural appearance. When extracted with methyl chloride, decaffeinated beans are brown in color as opposed to the normal bean color green.

Soluble CoffeeOccasionally soluble coffee is stowed with green beans from Brazil. When shipped on pallets or in extremely rare cases as loose cargo, the nature of the packing of the soluble coffee precludes it from contaminating any other cargo or being contaminated by any other cargo unless the cardboard cartons and inner polythene bags are themselves damaged. Such damage to the packing may occasionally lead to contamination of the bags containing green beans by the soluble coffee, which due to its hygroscopic nature gives the appearance of the bags being damaged by a tarry substance. Such bags are not normally treated by receivers as being in damaged condition unless the degree of contamination is such as to penetrate the bags and render the beans unsuitable for roasting.

InfestationCoffee occasionally exhibits infestation on arrival. This may be due to insufficient fumigation at the point of origin but may also arise from cross infestation from other cargo or residues left in holds or containers. The problem is usually solved by further fumigation at destination.

Shipping DocumentationCoffee is covered by an International Coffee

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Container TransportThe protective and ventilation measures conventionally taken in a general cargo ship do not generally apply to containers. Containers have increased handling speeds decisively. The constant increase in container ship tonnage has increasingly reduced the supply of space in conventional ships. Approx. 95% of European coffee imports are already transported in containers - the change-over to containerized coffee transport is largely complete.

In Integral ReefersThis equipment is used for the transport of high quality so called "Gourmet coffee". The container must be fitted with drain holes to drain away moisture. Recommended temperature setting is plus 13 degrees Celsius and with no air freshening or plus 14 degrees Celsius with 10 per cent air freshening. Written transport instructions must be obtained from the shipper prior to accepting this cargo due to the very high value involved.

Coffee in BulkPolypropylene inlet (liner bag) large enough to fit into the sidewall corrugation ribs. For a standard 20ft GP the bag should be of minimum dimensions: 550 cm (length) x 234 cm (width) x 240 cm (height). Liner bag to be properly attached and fixed horizontally at the top (avoiding torsion in the bag so that tearing does not occur during loading). In order to contain the coffee bulk, either an independent or integrated bulkhead must be fitted in way of the door in such a way that closing of the doors is possible on completion of blowing in the load (at least 10 cms clear of the door). Where an integrated bulkhead is not part of the bag construction, enough material should be left to cover the inlet openings. Positioning the bulkhead can be achieved by integrated nylon webbing straps or horizontal steel/wooden bars fitting into the doorway recess. Wooden bars must always be of seasoned timber. Prior to loading the coffee, blow the bag into position and close one door for safety. Depending on the season and transit route, desiccants must be added for condensation control. They must be placed within the inner liner on top of the stow and taped on cardboard floaters (to avoid immersion in the load during transit). Affix a warning sticker to the door close to the seal as per fig. Manifests must clearly state that contents of the container is in bulk.

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Water DamagesIf sweat water damages are reported, it should be considered, whether - apart from proper lining of containers - shippers have minimized damage risks by shipping at the least humid periods, thereby limiting the thermo shock when moving into cooler regions; i.e. shippers moving cargo in December/January and presenting their sweat water damages should not be treated equal to those of March/April, as the former should be aware of increased damage risks.

Rarely is sweat water caused by unavoidable climatic changes alone, mostly lack of proper lining, excessive humidity or taped container air holes are met by lack of due diligence at the receiving end: such import goods MUST be delivered right upon discharge to avoid major damages, as any day under cold/wet weather above 0° C is adding another estimated 2-3% of damages to the cargo. Import customer made aware of this cannot then, later, refer to carrier

liability or the clean B/L, if they have failed to take the necessary steps from their end. The same, though, applies to the carrier, allowing lengthy transshipment storage in any northern European port.

Additional information on coffee shipments:Main reason for wetness is direct wall contact with the cargo. Hence use bubble foil and card board to reduce such contact, however the best way to avoid this to an utmost extent would be the use of a solid stow method, where like for a chess field three bags are stowed parallel to the container side walls and three parallel to container front and back in such a way that the walls are not touched at all. The problem with such method would be that it would have to be taught to handling staff for several years before taking effect, if followed.Best alternative is the use of big bags, ensuring a minimum contact to container walls while allowing for a most efficient stow. One cause of humidity inside coffee /cocoa containers is poor or no air circulation.

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Cargo packaging considerations

There are a number of materials available for shipment packaging. Some of these with new technologies and more advanced materials are suited to carry greater weights, surviving extreme weather conditions or minimizing excess weight and space.Types of carrier – Road, Rail, Air and Ship are used in transport.Types of hazards – For each type of carrier, what hazards are the shipments likely to encounter! For ocean shipping, this would include the type of storage, loading and unloading facilities, route, time of year (summer, winter, etc.) port reputation, etc.Cost factors – As well as ensuring maximum protection for the goods being shipped, the shipper can also minimize transportation costs by using lightweight, least bulky materials etc.Custom requirements now frequently demand specialist attention. So if a country has particular regulations for international shipping; For example, palletization is a must for shipping cargoes to Saudi Arabia.

If it is not in accord with regulation, it is very likely that that destination country may not allow such cargo. It is then possible that shipper may have to either arrange for the return of the shipment, the destruction of non-compliant packaging or the treatment of non-compliant packaging. This can be very costly, time consuming and greatly affect supply chain.Besides, in some importing countries, import duties are based on the gross weight of the item, including the interior and exterior containers and packing material. An allowance for tariff purposes is given for “tare” (the difference between the gross and net weights) and so both weights should be shown on the commercial invoice.

CARGO PACKAGING TYPESPacking requirements vary, depending on the commodity, transport type, weather conditions and regulations of the country of origin or destination. Besides, cost is one of the top things to consider.

Here are 4 types widely used in freight packaging.

CARTONPaper and cardboard packaging is limited by the weight that it can withhold, as well as the ease of transporting it due to its incompatibility with common lifting equipment such as forklift trucks. There are also issues with its performance in extreme weather conditions, as it is likely to suffer damage in humid, wet or very cold conditions. It is however very cheap and easily recyclable. Example: CEMENT

CORRUGATED CARTONThis is the method that is used for shipping clothes, books, plastic and other things that are not breakable.

Double-Walled Corrugated CartonThis packaging method is often a reasonable alternative to crating and used quite often in the

BONUS ARTICLE

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CRATEshipping industry. If moving furniture or other larger items, to ensure the protection of the finishes and delicate parts, use quality styrofoam and bubble wrap around these areas, box items securely so there is no movement inside, palletize and use strapping to hold in place, metal or nylon strapping bands are preferred.

Double CartonsThis packaging method is used more often for fragile items such as: glassware, china, and smaller items that need extra care. These items should be separately hand wrapped in a commercial bubble wrap individually. Then these items are placed inside an inner shipping box, which will then go inside an actual shipping box with approximately 2-3 inches or more.

Carton Strength Guidelines

Crating is usually used for larger and heavier items, or as the best guarantee against breakage as well as high valued items that could be damaged easily. Whether wooden crate or plastic crate, they can well play a bracing role.There is usually a higher cost for this method of packaging, but the advantage is well protected.

PALLETMost ports, warehouses and other distribution terminals are designed with pallets in mind.Palletizing is used for consolidating smaller items together, after they are boxed, and is necessary for large items and heavy shipments. This means the items are placed on a heavy wood foundation, shrink wrapped, strapped in place.When using this method, a lift platform or dock is needed and forklift is used to move these items. There are 6 recognized ISO sizes:

• 1016 x 1219 mm (40’’x 48’’) North America• 1000 x 1200 mm Europe, Asia• 1165 x 1165 mm Australia• 1067 x 1067 mm (42’’ x 42’’) Worldwide• 1100 x 1100 mm (43’’ x 43’’) Asia• 800 x 1200 mm Europe

Standard pallets are 40’’ x 48’’ with the goods not to extend over the pallet being used or exceed the height of 8 feet. Special pallets must be made for goods larger than 40’’ x 48’’. Loads wider than 7 feet will require a forklift to off-load the freight. If freight weight is less than 100 Kgs. and your business does not have a dock, the load may be broken down from the pallet and then off-loaded by hand.

Attention: Wooden pallet packaging is carefully regulated with over 200 countries now requiring ISPM 15 certified. They must find the IPPC mark on the pallet, or big trouble happens.

Singlewall Corrugated

Maximum Weightof Contents in

Pounds

Size Limit of Box in Inches

Bursting Test in Pounds per Square Inch

Edge Crush Test(ECT) in Poundsper Inch Width

3040506580

75758595

105

200200250275350

Singlewall Corrugated

Maximum Weightof Contents in

Pounds

Size Limit of Box in Inches

Bursting Test in Pounds per Square Inch

6080

100120140150

8595

105110115120

200275350400500600

4851617182NA

32404455NA

Edge Crush Test(ECT) in Poundsper Inch Width

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BACK TO BASICS

LAST MONTH'S QUESTION: (Please submit your replies by 25th of each month)What are the concerns about glue that is used in manufacturing plywood?

LAST MONTH'S ANSWER:

CORRECT ANSWERS SENT BY: (In order of mails received)

PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLIES/ANSWERS TO ADDRESSES GIVEN ON LAST PAGE OF THE MARINE NEWSLINK

The adhesives used in plywood have become a point of concern. Both urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde are carcinogenic in very high concentrations. As a result, many manufacturers are turning to low formaldehyde -emitting glue systems, denoted by an "E" rating ("E0" possessing the lowest formaldehyde emissions). Plywood producing "E0" has effectively zero formaldehyde emission.

Prashant Phalke - J.B.Boda Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., MumbaiAnkit Jain - Tata AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AhmedabadHema Raghav - Optima Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi Kritika Singh - Optima Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., New DelhiNishi Priya - Optima Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., New DelhiBharat Bhushan - Optima Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

QUESTION OF THE MONTHConsignment of coal (in bulk) from Indonesia to India was covered under ICC-B + War + Strikes. When the cargo was on high seas, ‘fire’ originated in one of the holds due to spontaneous combustion, dam-aging the coal in that hold. Is the claim payable?

Special vote of thanks to the team at OPTIMA INSURNACE BROKERS - NEW DELHI for their enthusiastic participation.

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