Getting into Coffee Trading

Hi all, I'm a longtime lurker and first time poster. I'm currently a college sophomore.

By the end of this summer I'll have two commodities internships under my belt (One in physical grain and the other in derivatives of a very niche commodity). This whole time I've been trying to get an internship with a coffee trading company as I'd ultimately like to work for a coffee importer after I graduate. I've had zero luck. Even by the standards of the commodity industry it seems like coffee traders are extremely insular and secretive.

I feel like I must be going about this the wrong way.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 
Most Helpful

Is there anyone at WSO involved with coffee trading (physical, paper/futures, specialty coffee), etc?

I'd suggest to those interested in breaking into green coffee trading to start as Lab Assistant / Quality Assistant at a coffee importer, trader, or mill or at an operations desk. For example spending a few months with a coffee exporter in say Guatemala, Brazil, Kenya, or an importer in Europe.

Compared to other commodities, coffee seems to be controlled by the main 5-7 companies globally, but there are a number of medium and small players where it may be easier to get started.

 

Following

Realized this is an old thread and OP must have just graduated.

 

Corrected. Let's just say undergrads change their minds often..

 

if anyone still interested, i’m a partner at a top physical coffee trading house. 

you guys may think it’s crazy but I make more than 99% of M&A guys, and have a semblance of a life! 

I know this is a 2 year old thread but I had a ton of questions sent to me regarding it 

 

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