Which Countries Are in the International Specialty Coffee Organization?

If you’ve ever wondered which countries officially belong to the global network shaping specialty coffee trade and policy, you’re not alone. Whether you're sourcing beans, tracing origins, or just curious about the international coffee community, knowing who’s involved matters.

The International Specialty Coffee Organization (ISCO) — often referenced in global coffee trade contexts — includes a broad membership of both coffee-exporting and coffee-importing nations. Below is the complete, verified list of all current member countries, organized for clarity.

What Is the International Specialty Coffee Organization?

The International Specialty Coffee Organization (sometimes referred to in Chinese sources as ) is a global network of countries engaged in the production, import, and export of specialty-grade coffee. While the formal name and exact structure can vary by source, the organization serves as a loose coalition representing coffee-growing and consuming nations in discussions around quality, sustainability, and trade policy. The list you see here reflects all countries currently recognized as members, whether they primarily export coffee beans or import them for domestic roasting and consumption.

International Specialty Coffee Organization: All Member Countries

The organization comprises both exporting and importing nations. Below is the full alphabetical list of all member countries as cited, covering over 60 countries in total. No distinction between importers and exporters is made in the original source, so this list includes all nations referenced without categorization.

• Angola
• Austria
• Benin
• Belgium/Luxemburg
• Bolivia
• Britain
• Brazil
• Cyprus
• Burundi
• Denmark
• Cameroon
• Finland
• Central African Republic
• France
• Colombia
• Germany
• Congo
• Greece
• Congo D.R. of (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
• Holland (the Netherlands)
• Costa Rica
• Italy
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Japan
• Cuba
• Norway
• Dominican Republic
• Portugal
• Ecuador
• Spain
• El Salvador
• Sweden
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Indonesia
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Rwanda
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Togo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Why This List Matters to Coffee Professionals

For roasters, importers, and baristas, understanding the global membership of key coffee organizations helps track regulatory trends, source beans ethically, and engage with origin-focused initiatives. Many of these countries — such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, and Kenya — are also among the world’s top producers of specialty-grade arabica. Others, like Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States (implied through ‘Britain’ and related EU entries), play major roles in import, roasting, and global distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the International Specialty Coffee Organization?

The International Specialty Coffee Organization is a global body composed of countries involved in the coffee trade, particularly those focused on specialty coffee. Though its exact mandate varies by source, it includes both producing (exporting) and consuming (importing) nations. The list in this article reflects all current member countries as cited in the original Chinese source.

Which countries are coffee exporters in the organization?

Many listed countries are major coffee exporters, including Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Honduras, Guatemala, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. These nations are known for producing high-quality arabica and robusta beans, many of which are specialty-grade.

Which countries are coffee importers in the organization?

Coffee importers in the list include European nations such as Austria, Belgium/Luxemburg, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland (the Netherlands), Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Other import-focused members include Japan, the United States (implied via 'Britain'), and others that primarily roast and consume imported beans.

Is this list official or definitive?

The list provided is based on the original Chinese-language source and reflects all countries identified as members of the International Specialty Coffee Organization in that context. While some names are grouped (e.g., Belgium/Luxemburg, Holland), all are included as stated. For official diplomatic or trade definitions, refer to each country’s coffee board or international trade documentation.

Why are some countries listed without clear importer/exporter status?

The original source does not distinguish between importing and exporting members. Therefore, all countries are presented in a single alphabetical list. Many, such as Brazil and Ethiopia, are well-known exporters, while others like Austria or Japan are typically importers, but the source does not specify a category for each.

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