Employee Benefit Plans - Reconciliation of Asset Balances (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Farmer Brothers Plan
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	$ 80,448	$ 63,462
Total gains	246	16,619
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	82,110	80,448
Farmer Brothers Plan \| Level 3
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	4,711	3,147
Total gains	561	652
Settlements	(1,168)	912
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	4,104	4,711
Unrealized gains	561	652
Brewmatic Plan
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	2,871	2,490
Total gains	(25)	635
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	2,718	2,871
Brewmatic Plan \| Level 3
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	167	132
Total gains	19	28
Settlements	(50)	7
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	136	167
Unrealized gains	19	28
Hourly Employees' Plan
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	421	0
Total gains	(4)	11
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	1,013	421
Hourly Employees' Plan \| Level 3
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the year	25	0
Total gains	5	0
Settlements	36	25
Fair value of plan assets at the ending of the year	66	25
Unrealized gains	$ 5	$ 0

The difference between fair value of plan assets at the end of the period and the fair value at the beginning of the period, adjusted for contributions and payments of benefits during the period, and after adjusting for taxes and other expenses, as applicable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Actual Return on Plan Assets (Component of Net Periodic Pension Cost)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504226

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 106

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Actual Return on Plan Assets (Component of Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504192

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

- Definition

Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

The amount that relates to an irrevocable action that relieves the employer (or the plan) of primary responsibility for a benefit obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to effect the settlement. Examples of transactions that constitute a settlement include (a) making lump-sum cash payments to plan participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified benefits and (b) purchasing nonparticipating annuity contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 87

-Paragraph 264

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 106

-Paragraph 518

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details