Coffee & Tea

Roasted whole bean, ground coffee & loose-leaf tea blends

Cottage Food Eligible
0state roasting license required
No capon annual sales
Dryshelf-stable goods only
IN onlydelivery/shipping

What's Covered  /  What Needs a Different Path

✓ Covered here

  • Home-roasted whole bean and ground coffee
  • Loose-leaf tea blends and dried herbal tisanes
  • Flavored/infused dry coffee or tea blends with shelf-stable additives

✗ Needs a different path

  • Ready-to-drink bottled coffee or tea beverages with dairy or low-acid additions (see Beverages/Dairy)
  • Shipping outside Indiana under the cottage exemption
  • Wholesale distribution to cafes or grocers direct from a home kitchen

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Roast and package at home

Coffee roasting and tea blending are dry, non-hazardous processes that qualify as cottage food under the Home-Based Vendor law with no facility inspection.

B

Get your food handler cert

Complete an ANSI-accredited course before selling, the same as any other Home-Based Vendor product.

C

Label with origin and disclaimer

State roast date, blend ingredients, net weight, and the home-produced/not-inspected disclaimer.

Quick Reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Roasted coffee / loose teaCottage-eligible, no licenseIC 16-42-5.3
Food handler trainingANSI-accredited certificatePurdue Extension / ServSafe
LabelingNet weight, ingredients, disclaimerISDH
Sales channelIn-state, direct-to-consumer onlyISDH

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a roaster permit?

No – Indiana treats home coffee roasting as a dry cottage food process with no separate roasting license.

Can I sell tea blends online?

Yes, as long as delivery and shipping stay inside Indiana under the cottage vendor rules.

What if I add dried fruit to my tea blend?

That's fine as long as everything in the blend is shelf-stable and non-TCS.

Do I need a scale-certified net weight?

Best practice is a calibrated scale so your printed net weight is accurate and defensible.

Printable Checklist

Complete an ANSI-accredited food handler course
Keep all coffee/tea ingredients shelf-stable
Print roast date and blend ingredients on labels
Add the home-produced disclaimer
Track and stay inside Indiana for delivery/shipping
Recheck labeling if you add new flavor ingredients