Coffee Extracts, Essences & Concentrates — Instant Coffee & Preparations

The schedule separates non-flavored, non-decaffeinated instant coffee packaged for retail sale (2101112126) from the same product in non-retail (bulk) form (2101112129), and applies the same retail/non-retail split to decaffeinated instant coffee (2101112131 and 2101112139). The retail designation generally applies to consumer-sized packaging sold directly to end users, while bulk formats destined for food service or further processing use the non-retail lines. Packaging size thresholds and labeling characteristics are the key factors CBP considers in making this distinction.

The country of origin for instant coffee is generally the country where the substantial transformation from green coffee to soluble coffee extract occurs — typically the country where roasting, extraction, and drying take place. This means that instant coffee manufactured in Mexico from Colombian green beans would ordinarily be marked as a product of Mexico. Importers should obtain a manufacturer's affidavit confirming the processing location and consult a licensed customs broker when the production chain spans multiple countries, as origin affects both marking requirements and potential trade-remedy exposure.