Introduction The sustainable development of global value chains (GVC) depends on how transactions are organized. Yet less attention has been given to how downstream governance mechanisms shape value recognition and distribution. This study addresses this gap within the specialty coffee GVC. Methods An in-depth qualitative analysis was conducted among European downstream agents in the specialty coffee GVC. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were examined to identify governance structures, coordination mechanisms, and the processes through which information about the value is transmitted. Results Findings show that specialty coffee is defined by non-contractible, subjective attributes valued differently along the chain. The further downstream the transaction, the more subjective this measurement becomes. Governance relies on informal mechanisms and relational coordination rather than vertical integration, with importers playing a central coordination role. Discussion The importer plays a central coordinating role, holding and translating key information on coffee quality, thereby shaping coordination processes and influencing value distribution along the chain. Strengthening information transparency is important to avoid power asymmetries, as difficulties in measuring quality can create information gaps that increase the risk of value losses along the chain.
Guimarães et al. (Mon,) studied this question.