Frequently Asked Questions

The quality of the green coffee is our foundation. Since a single defective green coffee bean can impair the entire flavor profile, we ensure the highest standards when selecting the unroasted beans.

No. Although many of our specialty coffees are single-origin, we also offer carefully curated blends. A specialty blend from us consists of several high-quality coffees that together create a unique and consistent flavor profile.

We select our green coffees according to the highest quality standards:

• Arabica: These beans grow in cooler, high-altitude regions and impress with their sweet, complex flavor and delicate acidity.
• Robusta: For lovers of more body and an earthier taste, we also carry high-quality Robusta varieties, which have a higher caffeine content and are more robust in cultivation.

Even Robusta can be classified by us as a specialty coffee if it meets the appropriate quality standards.

The farmers' choice of a specific processing method significantly shapes the character of the coffee:

• natural (dry): The farmers dry the whole cherries in the sun. The long contact of the bean with the fruit pulp results in coffees with intense sweetness, clear fruit notes, and a full body.
• washed (wet): Here, the producers mechanically remove the fruit pulp before the beans are fermented and washed in water tanks. This ensures very clear aromas, elegant acidity, and a vibrant fruitiness.
• fully washed: This is a particularly meticulous form of wet processing, where multiple washes achieve exceptional purity and brilliance in taste.
• pulped natural: The farmers remove the outer skin, but leave part of the fruit pulp to dry on the bean. This combines the sweetness of a natural with the clarity of a washed coffee.
• honey: This method is similar to Pulped Natural, where farmers intentionally leave a sticky layer (mucilage) on the bean. Depending on the remaining amount, the result varies from sweet-creamy to complex-fruity.
• anaerobic: This is a modern method where farmers control the fermentation in special tanks under exclusion of oxygen. This leads to unique, often exotic, and very intense aromas.

Yes, you can enjoy our coffees with complete peace of mind. We guarantee that we do not add any additives, artificial flavors, or foreign substances to our products. The descriptions on our packaging, such as hazelnut, dark chocolate, blackcurrant, or malt, are solely for sensory description purposes. These terms help us make the natural flavor diversity tangible for you. Our packages contain exclusively the pure natural product: 100% coffee.

Yes, all our coffees are 100% vegan. As coffee is a pure natural product, it contains no animal ingredients. During our artisan roasting process, we also completely refrain from using any additives or glazing agents of animal origin.

Yes. At Erste Tegernseer Kaffeerösterei, we use traditional drum slow roasting. Unlike industrial rapid roasting processes, we give the coffee time, which specifically breaks down aggressive acids and bitter substances. This makes the coffee much gentler on the stomach.

No, a residual caffeine content of approx. 0.1% is technically unavoidable in decaffeinated coffees. This is necessary to best preserve the other valuable aromas of the bean during the process.

We rely on gentle batch and drum roasting. In contrast to industrial roasting, we give our beans the time they need to fully develop their more than 800 natural aromas. In doing so, we specifically break down unwanted bitter substances and aggressive acids.

In principle, as a natural product, our coffee has a very long shelf life and doesn't "go bad" in the traditional sense. However, since coffee contains delicate oils that can oxidize over time, at Erste Tegernseer Kaffeerösterei we place great emphasis on maximum freshness. We declare a best-before date (BBD) on our bags, which is 6 months after the roast date. This way, we guarantee you a product with a vibrant aroma profile. For ideal enjoyment, we recommend:

• Whole Beans: Ideally, you should consume these within 6 to 8 weeks after the roast date.
• Ground Coffee: Due to faster oxidation, we recommend consuming this within 4 weeks.

We are convinced that quality begins at the source. For us, organic farming means foregoing synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This not only protects the environment and the health of farmers but also promotes a healthy ecosystem (biodiversity) through mixed cropping, which positively impacts the purity and aromatic brilliance of our products.

Transparency is a core tenet of the specialty coffee movement and our philosophy. It allows you as a consumer to know exactly where your coffee comes from. We work directly with coffee farmers and pay prices above the world market level. This ensures a sustainable livelihood for the farmers and motivates them to use even better cultivation methods.

Shipping costs are a flat rate of €5.90. For orders over €75, we deliver free of charge to your home.

We ship throughout Europe.
Whether within Germany or internationally – your coffee will reliably reach you.

Within Germany, to Austria and Switzerland, we ship with DHL, and internationally with FedEx. You will receive a tracking number for maximum transparency.

The shipping service provider will leave a notification or deliver
your parcel to a secure location or a branch. This way, you won't miss
your delivery.

International orders may incur additional charges depending on the country. These are determined by the respective authorities.

You generally bear the costs for returns yourself.
In case of faulty goods, we will of course cover the costs.

Yes – as a regular customer, we offer you the option to purchase on account.

You first receive your goods and then pay comfortably within 10 days net.

Yes – all payments are processed through established and verified payment providers.
Your data is protected at all times and transmitted securely.

For credit card and digital payment methods, the amount is debited immediately after the order is placed. This way, your order is processed immediately and shipped quickly.

If you choose advance payment, please transfer the amount beforehand.
As soon as we receive your payment, we will ship your order immediately.

Please contact us by email in advance. We will send you all further information for a simple return process.

Please contact us directly and, if possible, send a photo. We will quickly arrange a replacement or a suitable solution.

Once the return has been received and inspected, the refund will be issued promptly via the original payment method. You don't need to do anything else.

Ground coffee and opened foodstuffs are generally excluded from return for hygiene reasons. If in doubt, please contact us.

Simply write to us using the contact form on our "Beans to Business" page. We would appreciate a few details about your project, such as which machines you use and how much coffee you expect to grind. We will then get back to you promptly so that we can find the perfect solution together.

From cozy cafés and upscale hotels to offices where good coffee is the most important meeting outcome: We work with everyone who shares our commitment to quality. Even if you're just starting your business, we're happy to help you delight your guests or employees from the very first cup. In short: We are the right partner for anyone who understands that life is simply too short for bad coffee.

Our assortment is as diverse as the mountain world around Lake Tegernsee. We offer everything from distinctive single-origins to our finely tuned blends. Whether you are looking for a strong espresso for your portafilter machine or an aromatic filter coffee: We ensure that the bean perfectly matches your equipment and your taste.

We know that without coffee, morale quickly drops in the workplace. Since we roast frequently and in precise batches for maximum freshness, we schedule shipping as promptly as possible. We will discuss the exact delivery details directly with you as part of your individual offer.