General information on the Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association at Hamburg Chamber of Commerce

Since January 1, 2006, the Secretariat of the Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association has been based at our Chamber of Commerce. As of June 2025, we are also able to offer quality arbitration in the coffee trade. Our Chamber of Commerce looks back on a history spanning more than 350 years. It is a public law institution with approximately 300 employees and serves as the self-governing body of Hamburg’s business community. Representing the interests of around 150,000 companies, it advocates vis-à-vis politics and public administration. The Chamber acts as a customer-oriented service provider for its member companies and as an independent advocate for the principles of the market, competition, and fair play. For more information on Hamburg Chamber of Commerce visit our website

1. Rules of Procedure

The Rules of Procedure of the Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association were originally developed in 1988 to govern disputes arising from coffee trade transactions, excluding quality arbitrations. Since then, they have been continuously updated. In 2014, the arbitration rules were revised, and in June 2025, a new version of the Rules of Procedure (nicht barrierefrei, PDF-Datei · 635 KB) entered into force. This version now also provides for the conduct of quality arbitration in the coffee trade before the Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association.
The Rules of Procedure are in accordance with Book 10 of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO), which codifies arbitration law in Germany. The ZPO supplements the Rules of Procedure where necessary (see Article 24(a) ECC).
Book 10 of the ZPO is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, which has been adopted by more than 70 countries (as of 2016).

2. Arbitration proceedings

Step 1: Filing the Statement of Claim
The claimant submits a statement of claim to the Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association. The statement must include:
Proof of the arbitration agreement, A description of the dispute, A specific claim for relief, Ideally, evidence or a motion to admit evidence supporting the claim, The name and address of the arbitrator nominated by the claimant, along with a declaration of consent from the arbitrator.
Step 2: Cost Estimate and Advance
The Secretariat calculates the estimated costs and requests the claimant to pay an advance on costs.
Step 3: Service of Claim and Response
Once the advance is received, the Secretariat forwards the claim to the respondent. The respondent must:
  • Submit a written response within 21 days, and
  • Nominate an arbitrator.
  • The two party-appointed arbitrators then agree on a presiding arbitrator (chairperson).
Step 4: Exchange of Submissions
Each party may respond in writing to the other party’s submissions. Typically, no more than two rounds of written submissions are exchanged.
Step 5: Oral Hearing
An oral hearing is held.
Step 6: Final Award
The arbitral tribunal issues a final award unless the case is otherwise resolved — for example, through settlement, withdrawal, or a mutually agreed decision recorded in a consent award.
Important Notes:
The Rules of Procedure do not provide for an appeal against an arbitral award. Parties may apply to the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court of Hamburg (OLG Hamburg) to review issues such as arbitrator appointments, interim measures, or challenges to the award. Thanks to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (ratified by 157 countries as of May 2017), awards are generally enforceable worldwide. The Chamber has published anonymised awards since 1975. Since 2002, these are published exclusively on the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce website.

3. Arbitrators

Each party appoints one arbitrator. These two arbitrators agree on a presiding arbitrator (umpire). Arbitrators are not required to be registered with the Court of Arbitration. However, party-appointed arbitrators must meet the criteria set out in § 4 para. 4 of the Rules of Procedure.
Eligible arbitrators must be:
Owners, board members, managing directors, personally liable partners, authorised signatories, or senior executives of companies engaged in the coffee trade or another international commodity trade or brokerage, registered in the commercial or cooperative register in Germany or have an equivalent legal status in another country.
The umpire is not required to belong to this group. All arbitrators must be independent and impartial, and they are not representatives of the parties.
The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce supports the tribunal through its legal counsel and administratively through the Secretariat — e.g. handling correspondence and organising oral hearings.

4. Costs of Arbitration

The Court of Arbitration charges fees based on the amount in dispute, as listed in the schedule of fees in the Rules of Procedure. The estimated costs can be calculated in advance.
Amount in Dispute Fee (EUR)
€10,000 €1,200
€15,000 €1,700
€25,000 €2,800
€40,000 €4,100
€65,000 €6,200
€100,000 €8,600
€300,000 €20,100
€1,000,000 €52,300
€2,000,000 €75,300
Fees are subject to VAT where applicable
A fee calculator is available under "Further Information". Additional costs (e.g. courier, travel, translation) may be incurred and charged to the parties.

5. Duration of of Arbitration

Arbitration proceedings typically last between 4 and 6 months.

6. Number of Arbitration Cases

The Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association generally handles 5 to 10 cases per year.

7. Quality Arbitration

Step 1: Initiating Quality Arbitration
Quality arbitration may be requested in disputes concerning the quality of green coffee. The request must be submitted in writing to the Secretariat and must include:
  • Contract number,
  • Origin,
  • Quality description as per contract,
  • Reason for the claim,
  • Stated depreciation,
  • Quantity under dispute, and
  • Nomination of an arbitrator by the applicant.
All relevant samples and evidence must be submitted within 30 days. Sampling follows the ESCC rules (Art. 8).
Step 2: Composition and Procedure
  • The panel consists of three arbitrators:
  • One appointed by each party,
  • The third (presiding) arbitrator is appointed jointly or, failing agreement, by the Chamber.
  • Arbitrators must have at least five years of experience in the coffee trade and be or have been employed by a member of the German Coffee Association.
Upon receiving the security deposit, the Secretariat notifies the respondent, who has seven days to appoint an arbitrator. The tasting takes place in a neutral lab of a non-involved member company, and the panel determines location and process. In case of suspected unfit or highly deviant quality, the arbitrators may instruct an independent laboratory.
Step 3: Costs
The flat fee for quality arbitration is €1,500, plus necessary expenses (e.g. lab, delivery), unless the arbitrators decide otherwise. The costs are generally borne by the applicant.
Step 4: Legal Effect and Result
The outcome of the tasting is recorded in an arbitration certificate, signed by all three arbitrators. This certificate is final and is sent to the parties by the Secretariat. It may serve as evidence in subsequent arbitration proceedings. Case files are stored for two years, and anonymised certificates may be published.
Conclusion:
Quality arbitration is a fast, specialised process to resolve disputes on green coffee quality. Its outcome is binding and admissible in later proceedings. Timely submission, sample delivery, and cost coverage are crucial for companies.

8. Language of the proceedings

The Court of Arbitration is prepared to run the proceedings in German and/or English; however the arbitral award is always rendered in German; a translation of the award is provided on the parties’ expenses.

9. Legal Framework for Coffee Trade

The European Coffee Federation (ECF) has published four standard contracts for the coffee trade. These can be obtained from the German Coffee Association (info@kaffeeverband.de) or via the ECF website under the section “Contracts”.

10. Contact

Court of Arbitration of the German Coffee Association at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
c/o Hamburg Chamber of Commerce
Judith Becker/Petra Sandvoß / Christian Graf
Adolphsplatz 1
20457 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: 00 49 / 40 / 36 13 8 – 350 or – 343
E-Mail: arbitration@hk24.de

Further Information