Accessorials

In the complex world of coffee supply chain management, what is an accessorial? Accessorials are supplementary services provided by carriers or warehouses that go beyond the basic point-to-point transportation of green coffee. When you are importing coffee, the freight quote is rarely the final price; accessorial charges are the variables that often catch new roasters off guard.

Common examples of coffee accessorials include lift-gate fees, which are charged when a delivery truck requires a hydraulic lift to lower pallets to the ground because the roastery lacks a loading dock. Other frequent charges include inside delivery fees, detention or demurrage fees for holding up a driver, and specialized storage or handling fees at a warehouse. These costs are essential to account for when calculating your true cost of goods sold.

For a roastery, understanding these charges is vital for budget accuracy. If you are ordering coffee from a warehouse, the logistics team will often ask if your facility is 'dock-equipped' or if you require 'residential delivery.' Answering these questions correctly helps avoid surprise invoices that can add hundreds of dollars to a single shipment.

In practice, accessorials represent the 'hidden' side of coffee logistics. They are the difference between a simple freight quote and the actual invoice you receive. By proactively communicating your facility's limitations to your green coffee importer or logistics provider, you can negotiate or plan for these costs, ensuring your coffee program remains profitable and your delivery process runs smoothly.