To start a coffee brand in Egypt, lock down compliance and unit economics first: form your company via GAFI, get Commercial Registry and Tax Card, register for ETA e-invoicing, then secure NFSA food business registration and an Industrial Development Authority (IDA) license if you roast or pack. If importing green beans, either join the GOEIC Importers Register or partner with a licensed importer; expect 0% customs duty on green coffee plus 14% VAT (verify current tariff for roasted/instant). Build a sourcing plan with 6-8-week lead times to Alexandria/Port Said, price on CIF, and hedge FX exposure; target consistent grades (e.g., Ethiopia G2, Brazil NY 17/18) and test for moisture 10-12% and OTA within Codex limits. Specify SKUs for local demand: Turkish extra-fine, espresso, and filter grinds; 100 g, 250 g, and 1 kg packs with multilayer valves and nitrogen flush. Labels must be Arabic and EOS/NFSA-compliant: product name, net weight, lot, production/expiry dates, origin, producer/importer, storage, and contact. Design a roast curve for darker local preferences while keeping water activity under 0.60; install gas roasters 5-15 kg, chaff filtration, and HACCP. Route to market: HORECA (25-40% discount), modern trade (listing fees), and D2C subscriptions; keep 70% shelf life at delivery.
