Terms and Conditions
Last updated: 13 July 2026
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before using the Gonzalez Brothers Coffee online store. By using the store or placing an order, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
Note on scope. Our store serves both retail customers and trade (wholesale) customers. General terms apply to everyone; some terms apply only to wholesale/trade orders and are marked as such. Nothing in these Terms affects the statutory rights you have as a consumer.
1. Introduction
Welcome to Gonzalez Brothers Coffee ("we", "our", or "us"). These Terms and Conditions govern your use of our online store and your purchase of specialty coffee products ("Products") supplied by us — whether you buy at retail or as a wholesale/trade customer.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Gonzalez Brothers Coffee Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 16834926).
2. Accounts
2.1 Buying from the store
You can browse and purchase Products from the store as a guest — no account is required for a standard retail order.
2.2 Wholesale / trade accounts
Wholesale pricing, trade samples, and other trade features are available to registered businesses. To access them you may be asked to provide business details, and by doing so you represent and warrant that:
- You are acting on behalf of a legally registered business entity.
- You have the authority to bind that business to these Terms.
- The information you provide is accurate and up to date.
We may verify trade details and reserve the right to decline or withdraw trade access at our discretion.
2.3 Account security
If you create an account, you are responsible for keeping your login credentials confidential and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee if you suspect unauthorised use.
3. Orders and Pricing
3.1 Placing orders
An order placed through the store is an offer to purchase the selected Products. Our automated order-confirmation email acknowledges your order but does not form a contract. The contract is formed only when we dispatch the goods (or, for wholesale orders, when we send you written confirmation). This lets us correct any pricing or availability error before we accept your order.
3.2 Pricing
Prices displayed on the store are in British Pounds (GBP). Retail prices are shown inclusive of any applicable VAT; wholesale prices are shown exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise. Prices are subject to change, but changes will not affect orders already accepted.
3.3 Minimum order quantities (wholesale)
Certain wholesale Products may be subject to minimum order quantities (MOQ) as specified on the product listing. We reserve the right to decline wholesale orders that do not meet the stated MOQ.
3.4 Wholesale catalogue and quotations (wholesale)
Listings in the wholesale catalogue represent our current availability and indicative pricing. Final pricing may be confirmed on order acceptance.
4. Payment
4.1 Retail orders
Retail orders are paid at checkout using the payment methods offered on the store (for example, card or PayPal). Your order is processed once payment is authorised.
4.2 Wholesale orders (wholesale)
For wholesale orders, we accept payment by bank transfer (BACS/CHAPS), card, and other methods agreed in writing. Payment terms (including any invoice or credit terms) will be as stated on your invoice or as otherwise agreed in writing. Unless agreed otherwise, wholesale invoices are due within 30 days of the invoice date.
4.3 Late payment (wholesale)
For overdue wholesale invoices, we reserve the right to charge interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate per annum, to suspend further orders until outstanding balances are settled, and to engage a debt recovery service at your expense.
5. Delivery and Shipping
5.1 Delivery estimates
Delivery dates given at the time of ordering are estimates only. We will make every reasonable effort to meet them.
5.2 Risk and title
Risk in the Products passes to you on delivery. Title remains with Gonzalez Brothers Coffee until we have received payment in full.
5.3 Shipping costs
UK shipping is free on retail orders over £20; below that, shipping is calculated and shown at checkout before you confirm your order. Wholesale shipping is quoted separately.
5.4 International orders
For deliveries outside the United Kingdom, additional customs duties, taxes, and import fees may apply and are your responsibility.
6. Returns and Refunds
If you are a consumer, nothing in this section limits your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. The processes below are to help us put things right quickly — they are not a condition of your legal rights.
6.1 Damaged, defective, or incorrect goods
If your order arrives damaged, defective, or materially different from what you ordered, please tell us within 5 business days of delivery — a photo helps — at info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee. We will arrange a replacement, refund, or credit. (For wholesale transit-damage claims we ask you to notify us within 48 hours where possible so we can raise it with the carrier — but for consumers this is a request, not a condition of your rights.)
6.2 Your right to cancel — consumers (retail)
If you are a consumer buying online, you generally have the right to cancel your order within 14 days of receiving it under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and receive a refund. To cancel, email us at info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee or use the model cancellation form in clause 6.5. You must return the goods within 14 days of telling us (return postage is at your cost unless the goods are faulty).
We will refund the price of the goods and the standard (least expensive) delivery cost you originally paid, within 14 days of receiving the goods back (or your proof of return), to the same payment method you used.
Exceptions. This right does not apply to:
- Opened bags of coffee — coffee is a sealed food product; for hygiene and food-safety reasons an opened bag cannot be returned.
- Goods made to your specification or clearly personalised.
Unopened, sealed retail coffee may be returned within the 14-day period. This does not affect your separate rights if goods are faulty or not as described.
6.3 Change of mind — wholesale (wholesale)
For wholesale/trade orders (business-to-business), we do not accept returns due to change of mind unless agreed in writing before the order is placed.
6.4 Opened or used product
As set out in clause 6.2, we cannot accept returns of opened bags for hygiene and food-safety reasons. This does not affect your statutory rights if goods are faulty or not as described.
6.5 Model cancellation form (consumers)
Complete and return this form only if you wish to cancel a retail order under clause 6.2.
To: Gonzalez Brothers Coffee Ltd, 32-33 Upper Street, London, N1 0PN — info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee I/We hereby give notice that I/We cancel my/our contract of sale of the following goods: …………… Ordered on / received on: …………… Name: …………… Address: …………… Date: ……………
7. Product Quality and Sourcing
7.1 Quality standards
Our Products are sourced from carefully selected partner fincas in the Ecuadorian Andes, with quality controls throughout the supply chain.
7.2 Product descriptions
Product descriptions, tasting notes, and specifications on the store are provided in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. Minor variations between lots are inherent in specialty coffee and do not constitute a defect.
7.3 Certifications
Where certifications (e.g., organic, fair trade) are stated, they are accurate at the time of listing. We will notify affected trade customers of any material change to a product's certification status.
8. Intellectual Property
All content on the store — including text, logos, images, and software — is the exclusive property of Gonzalez Brothers Coffee Ltd and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any content without our prior written consent.
9. Limitation of Liability
9.1 What we never exclude
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for anything else that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.
9.2 Consumers
If you are a consumer, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking these Terms or failing to use reasonable care and skill. We are not responsible for loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
9.3 Business and wholesale customers
If you are a business (including wholesale/trade) customer, then to the fullest extent permitted by law our total liability in connection with these Terms shall not exceed the total amount you paid for the Products in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, and we shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or special losses, including loss of profits, revenue, or business opportunity.
9.4 Events beyond our control
We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance caused by events beyond our reasonable control (force majeure).
10. Samples (wholesale)
Samples are a trade service for businesses evaluating our coffee for commercial purchase. This section applies to trade customers only.
10.1 Purpose
Samples are provided so you can cup, roast, and evaluate a specific lot before committing to a commercial order. They are not for resale, retail use, brewing for paying customers, redistribution, or any purpose other than your own internal evaluation.
10.2 Who can request a sample
We send samples to legally registered businesses operating in the coffee trade — roasters, cafés, importers, distributors, hospitality groups, and similar. We may decline requests we cannot verify or that fall outside the trade.
By submitting a sample request you confirm that you represent a legally registered business with authority to act on its behalf, that your information is accurate, and that you will use the sample only for internal evaluation.
10.3 Sample sizes
- Green coffee: 300 g per lot, drawn from the same physical lot offered for sale.
- Roasted coffee: 100 g per lot, roasted to our reference profile within 7 days of dispatch.
Sizes shown on the sample request page apply at the time of request.
10.4 Sample allowances and fees
10.4.1 First sample. One free sample, one lot, no account required. We need your full name, business email, and company name.
10.4.2 Verified trade accounts. Once your trade account is verified (typically within one business day), you may request additional samples, subject to lot availability and the fair-use principles in clause 10.9.
10.4.3 Beyond the standard allowance. Additional requests may be subject to a sample fee, which we confirm in writing before we ship and will not proceed without your acceptance.
10.4.4 Sample fees as credit. Sample fees you pay are credited in full against your first commercial order placed within six months of sample dispatch. Sample fees are not refundable in cash and do not stack with other discounts.
10.5 Geographic scope
- United Kingdom — Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- European Union and EFTA — 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
- Rest of world — by request and subject to a sample fee, feasibility check, and our right to decline destinations where reliable customs clearance or transit cannot be assured.
10.6 Shipping, customs and taxes
10.6.1 United Kingdom. Sample shipping is free of charge. No customs or import duties apply.
10.6.2 European Union and EFTA. We ship samples on a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) basis where carrier and destination allow. Before dispatch we issue a pro-forma invoice covering shipping cost, all applicable customs duties, and import VAT. When it is settled, no further payment is due on delivery. To ship to EU/EFTA addresses we will need your EU EORI number (or local equivalent), your VAT number where applicable, and the name of the legal entity importing the goods.
10.6.3 Rest of world. A sample fee applies, calculated to cover product, shipping, and handling. We ship on a Delivered At Place (DAP) basis: you act as importer of record, and you are responsible for clearing customs and paying all import duties, taxes, broker fees, and other charges on arrival. We provide a commercial invoice marked "Commercial sample — not for resale" with the correct HS code (0901.11 green / 0901.21 roasted) and a nominal declared value. We are not liable for any duties, taxes, fees, fines, or delays applied by your local customs authority.
10.7 Dispatch, delivery and risk
10.7.1 Dispatch time. We aim to dispatch confirmed sample requests within 5 business days of confirmation, subject to lot availability and, for roasted samples, the roast schedule. Dispatch times are estimates, not guarantees.
10.7.2 Lot availability. If a requested lot becomes unavailable between request and dispatch, we will offer the closest comparable lot; you may accept the substitute or cancel at no charge.
10.7.3 Carrier and tracking. We use tracked courier services appropriate to the destination. Tracking details are sent to your registered email at dispatch.
10.7.4 Risk and title. For free UK shipments and DDP EU/EFTA shipments, risk passes to you on delivery. For DAP rest-of-world shipments, risk passes when the carrier collects the parcel from our premises. Title in any paid sample remains with us until the sample fee is paid in full.
10.7.5 Your responsibilities on delivery. You are responsible for providing a complete, accurate delivery address, ensuring someone is available to receive the parcel, completing any local clearance steps, and notifying us of any failed delivery, damage, or non-arrival within 5 business days of the expected delivery date. We are not liable for delays or losses caused by events outside our reasonable control.
10.8 Sample-to-lot match and quality
10.8.1 Reference samples. Every sample is drawn from the same physical lot listed in our wholesale catalogue. We retain a sealed reference sample of every lot for cup comparison.
10.8.2 If a delivered lot does not match the sample. If you place a commercial order and the delivered coffee is materially different from the sample you evaluated, tell us within 5 business days of arrival. We will cup the delivery against our retained reference. If we confirm the deviation, we will offer a replacement, credit, or refund. For transit damage, see clause 6.1.
10.8.3 Limits on quality representations. Tasting notes, cupping scores, processing details, and producer information are accurate at the time of listing and provided in good faith. Minor cup variation between sample and bulk delivery is inherent in specialty coffee and does not constitute a defect. Roasted samples are roasted to our reference profile and may differ under your own roast curve and equipment.
10.9 Fair use
Samples are intended to support real purchase decisions. We may decline further requests, or move a future request to paid-only, where we reasonably believe the sample relationship is not progressing toward commerce. We will explain our reasoning in writing before declining and are happy to discuss alternatives such as paid sample sets.
10.10 Damaged or lost samples
Notify us within 5 business days of expected delivery if a sample is damaged in transit or has not arrived. Photographic evidence is required for damage claims. Where confirmed, we will arrange a replacement or refund the sample fee at our reasonable discretion, and will not generally replace a sample more than once per request.
10.11 Personal data
We use the contact and address details you provide solely for dispatching the sample, customs clearance, and ordinary follow-up. We share data only with the shipping carriers and customs brokers required to complete the shipment, and where required by law. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.
10.12 Sourcing and traceability information
On request, we make per-lot traceability information available to verified trade accounts, including producer name, farm name, farm-level geolocation where available, harvest period, and processing method, to support your own due diligence. We make no representation that this information satisfies any specific regulatory requirement applicable to you.
11. Confidentiality (wholesale)
For trade relationships, both parties agree to keep confidential any proprietary information, pricing structures, or business terms disclosed during the relationship. This obligation survives termination.
12. Termination (accounts)
We may suspend or terminate an account if you breach these Terms, if we reasonably suspect fraudulent activity, or (for wholesale accounts) if you fail to pay by the due date. You may close your account at any time by contacting us in writing. Termination does not relieve you of outstanding payment obligations.
13. Complaints, Governing Law and Disputes
13.1 Complaints
If something is wrong, please contact us first at info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee — we aim to resolve complaints quickly and fairly.
13.2 Alternative dispute resolution
We do not currently participate in an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme. If we cannot resolve a complaint directly, you may still pursue your legal rights through the courts.
13.3 Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
13.4 Disputes
For business and wholesale customers, disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. If you are a consumer, you may bring proceedings in the courts of your country of residence and you keep the benefit of any mandatory consumer protections of that country. Both parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation.
14. Amendments
We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Changes apply to orders placed after the change — they do not retroactively alter a contract already concluded.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:
Gonzalez Brothers Coffee Ltd Registered in England and Wales — company number 16834926 Registered office: 32-33 Upper Street, London, N1 0PN, United Kingdom VAT number: GB 509 693 753 Email: info@gonzalezbrothers.coffee