Coffee

Coffee comes from the tropical climates of South America, Africa, and East Asia, usually in jute bags stuffed inside dry box containers lined with kraft board. Wetness is the leading cause of damage to coffee beans, and this can occur anywhere the transportation chain. Wetness can be caused by humidity and improper ventilation of the bags inside the container. In the parts of the world where coffee is grown, steamship lines often provide containers that are both rusty and with rotted gaskets, allowing rainwater to seep into the sealed container.

Of particular note is the often long periods that coffee cargoes sit at the ports of discharge, either awaiting customs clearance or delivery to the consignee. Coffee beans absorb humidity, which can lead to a significant increase in the weight of the beans; shippers and growers are often aware of this fact, and can profit from these delays, as coffee is sold by weight. 

While a carrier can not generally be held responsible for delay, J.V. Watts & Co will be able to assist in recoveries against shippers loading damp cargo and steamship lines that provide inadequate containers for the rigors of ocean transport.