Indonesian Coffee Suppliers: 12 Essential Red Flags (2025)

A practical, step‑by‑step guide from the Indonesia‑Coffee Team on how to verify Indonesian coffee exporters using OSS/AHU/Bea Cukai portals, spot fake documents, and avoid costly mistakes in 2025.

If you buy green coffee from Indonesia, you’ve probably noticed two trends lately. One, more great micro‑lots are available. Two, more creative paperwork is floating around. We’ve been verifying Indonesian coffee exporters for years, and we see the same patterns repeat. Here’s the exact playbook we use internally to confirm a supplier is real, plus 12 red flags you can spot in minutes.

12 essential red flags in 2025

NIB PDF with a non-.go.id QR link. A genuine OSS business license (NIB) includes a QR that resolves to an oss.go.id address. If the QR links to a lookalike domain or a dead page, walk away.
Company name on NIB doesn’t match invoice or bank account. Legal name must be consistent across NIB, AHU registry, invoice header, and beneficiary bank. Minor punctuation is fine. Different entity type or different spelling isn’t.
Old SIUP/TDP presented as the main license. Indonesia replaced legacy SIUP/TDP with the NIB under OSS. If a supplier can’t show a current NIB, or only shows SIUP, that’s a red flag.
AHU registry shows non-active or liquidation status. We’ve seen nice‑looking NIB PDFs for companies that AHU lists as dissolved or not found. Always cross‑check in AHU (Ministry of Law & Human Rights) and confirm “Aktif.”
PEB/NPE without a working Bea Cukai QR. Export declarations in Indonesia carry a QR to a beacukai.go.id or ceisa.beacukai.go.id page. If the QR is missing or the link is off-domain, the PEB is likely not genuine.
HS codes that don’t match coffee. Coffee is HS 0901. If the PEB lists unrelated HS codes or a commodity that isn’t coffee, the paperwork doesn’t match the goods.
NIK (customs ID) cannot be shown at all. Exporters hold a Nomor Induk Kepabeanan. It will appear on PEB. If they can’t show their NIK on a prior shipment, request a redacted screenshot from CEISA. No NIK, no export.
KBLI codes unrelated to coffee/trade. The NIB lists KBLI business activities. For coffee exporters you should see wholesale trading and/or coffee processing activities. If it’s unrelated (say, construction), ask why.
Address that doesn’t exist on a map. We’ve checked “warehouses” that are empty lots or apartments. Validate the registered address and operational site on Maps and request a live video walk‑through of inventory and labeling.
Unwillingness to share a redacted past PEB. We never share consignee-sensitive info, but a real exporter can show a redacted PEB page that proves recent export activity of HS 0901.
Beneficiary bank outside Indonesia for a domestic exporter. Exceptions exist, but expect an Indonesian corporate bank account that matches the legal name. Personal accounts are a no.
Too-fast promises on Kopi Luwak or rare microlots. If someone guarantees “wild Luwak” at volume with no traceability or Q‑Grader data, assume marketing over reality. The same goes for “aged” beans without storage logs.

Quick takeaway: Check the URL of every QR, confirm legal name alignment, and insist on a redacted prior PEB. These three steps filter out most bad actors fast.

How do I check if an Indonesian coffee exporter’s NIB is real?

The NIB is issued via OSS (Online Single Submission). Here’s the check we use:

Ask for the full NIB PDF from OSS. It should include the company’s legal name, NIB number, KBLI activities, and a QR code.
Scan the QR. It should resolve to an oss.go.id page displaying consistent details. If the QR image is static and doesn’t open anything, assume it’s a copy‑paste.
Match the legal name, address, and NIB number with the invoice and bank beneficiary name. In our experience, real mismatches are rare.
Review KBLI. For coffee exporters you should see trading and/or processing activities relevant to coffee. If you only see unrelated activities, ask for the updated NIB extract.

Pro tip: In late 2024 we saw a rise in fake OSS lookalike domains. Only trust oss.go.id. Anything else is noise.

Can I verify a PT/CV registration online before paying a deposit?

Yes. Use the AHU public company search to find the legal entity profile. You’re looking for:

Status: Aktif. If you see liquidation or revocation, stop.
Exact legal name and entity type (PT or CV) matching the NIB and the invoice header.
The deed number and approval by Kemenkumham. For PTs, ask for the deed of establishment and latest amendment pages.

We also ask for the NPWP (tax number) copy. There isn’t a universal public NPWP checker, but the name and address on NPWP should align with the AHU/OSS data and invoice header.

Where can I confirm a PEB/NPE export document or customs data for a shipment?

Export declarations are filed to Bea Cukai. You can:

Scan the QR on the PEB or NPE. A valid QR resolves to a beacukai.go.id or ceisa.beacukai.go.id page with PEB number, date, exporter, NIK, HS, gross/net weight, and port. We verify HS 0901 and the exporter’s name and NIK.
Check that the consignee and port pair make sense. If you ordered to Rotterdam and see a different consignee and a different port, ask why. Pre‑advice drafts may show placeholders, but the final PEB/NPE must match the actual shipment.
Confirm the PPJK (customs broker) listed on the PEB. We sometimes call the broker using publicly listed contacts to confirm they handle that exporter.

Reality check: PEBs are created close to vessel cut‑off, so you won’t see a valid PEB weeks in advance. If you’re shown a “PEB” long before cargo readiness, it’s likely a template.

What does a legitimate NIB or OSS business license look like and what should match on it?

A legitimate OSS extract typically shows:

Legal entity name, address, NIB number, and QR.
KBLI activities that include coffee trade/processing and export‑related activities.
Risk status and any additional requirements. Coffee generally exports under standard exporter status.

Match these fields across documents: OSS NIB, AHU entity profile, invoice header, packing list, and bank beneficiary name. One mismatch is a question. Two mismatches is a red flag.

Is there a way to verify an exporter’s NIK (customs ID) or past export activity?

NIK isn’t broadly searchable by the public. Practical workarounds we use:

Ask for a redacted CEISA profile screenshot showing the exporter’s NIK and name. Or request a redacted PEB from the last 60–90 days with HS 0901.
Request the name and contact of their PPJK and confirm they manage the exporter’s filings.
If you’re mid‑shipment, your forwarder can confirm PEB/NPE validity directly with Bea Cukai.

In our experience, real exporters can provide at least one of these within a day.

Is ET-KOPI still required in 2025 and how do I confirm a supplier’s status?

As of early 2025, most coffee exports under HS 0901 proceed with a valid NIB and customs NIK. Dedicated ET‑KOPI licensing isn’t universally applied across ports. Regulations can change, so we always check current Ministry of Trade guidance before large contracts. Practical approach:

Ask the supplier which license basis they export under and request supporting pages from OSS.
Confirm no current “Lartas” (restricted export) requirement applies for the specific HS code on the planned route.
If someone insists on a special license you’ve never heard of, ask for the regulation number and verify with the Trade Ministry portal.

Common mistakes we see buyers make

Paying a large deposit before seeing a single validated document. Start with a small pre‑shipment tranche and confirm the NIB/AHU and a redacted prior PEB.
Accepting screenshots without clicking QR links. Always scan QR codes and check the domain is .go.id.
Not matching names line‑by‑line. “PT” missing or a swapped letter might be a new entity entirely.
Ignoring KBLI. If the business activities don’t fit coffee or trading, the exporter may be using a shell company.

A simple 15‑minute verification workflow

3 minutes: Scan the NIB QR. Confirm oss.go.id, name, address, KBLI relevance.
4 minutes: Search AHU for the legal entity. Confirm “Aktif,” name match, deed exists.
3 minutes: Review a redacted PEB from any recent shipment. Confirm beacukai.go.id link, HS 0901, exporter name/NIK.
3 minutes: Match invoice, packing list, and bank account name to the legal entity.
2 minutes: Map the address and request a quick warehouse video showing labeled bags. Consistency in lot markings and bag counts tells you a lot.

If you need a sanity check on a document set, we’re happy to look at a redacted NIB/PEB and give a quick thumbs‑up or questions to ask. You can Contact us on whatsapp.

What “good” looks like from a real exporter

Legitimate suppliers are comfortable with transparency. For example, when we ship specialty lots like Arabica Bali Kintamani Grade 1 Green Coffee Beans or Sumatra profiles such as Blue Batak Green Coffee Beans and Sumatra Mandheling Green Coffee Beans, buyers typically receive:

OSS NIB PDF with a working QR to oss.go.id and KBLI including coffee activities.
AHU entity snapshot showing “Aktif.”
Pro‑forma invoice with the exact same legal name as NIB/AHU and bank beneficiary.
At shipment, PEB/NPE with QR to beacukai.go.id and HS 0901. We can show a redacted PEB from previous exports on request.

When a supplier can offer this frictionlessly, you’ll spend more time cupping and less time worrying. If you want to compare lots for a program, browse a few options and specifications here: View our products.

Final takeaways

Start every engagement by verifying NIB on oss.go.id and the legal entity on AHU. It’s the fastest filter.
Never accept a PEB without a working .go.id QR. Confirm HS 0901 and exporter NIK.
Match names across every document. One clean paper trail beats a stack of fancy PDFs.
Be cautious with rare claims without evidence, especially around Kopi Luwak or aged coffees. Real suppliers have storage logs, QC notes, and traceability.

In our experience, these steps remove 90% of risk before you ever wire funds. And when something feels off, it usually is. Ask for one more document, make one more phone call, and verify one more QR. Your future self will thank you.