How these chaotic times affect roasters?
Coffee has been traded in the world for 400 years, and the harsh reality is that during each of these years, without exception, coffee growers have remained poor and exporters rich. This is, of course, a basic, simple and shallow analysis, but it only has one thing in its favor, and that is that it stands the test of time.
Coffee has been traded in the world for 400 years, and the harsh reality is that during each of these years, without exception, coffee growers have remained poor and exporters rich. This is, of course, a basic, simple and shallow analysis, but it only has one thing in its favor, and that is that it stands the test of time.
The test of time must be framed in a period long enough to understand a long-range phenomena, with the slow movement and measurement of its parameters. As it is in this case, about money, coffee and 400 years, a basic but fundamental tool to identify the errors of a system and to be able to establish its potential solutions. This is why the impact of specialty coffee on the coffee industry CANNOT be assessed on the basis of a very specific set of situations that generated an exponential rise in coffee prices to a 50-year high on the New York Stock Exchange.
This three or four day rally is due to a complex set of circumstances, including concerns about Brazil's production in the upcoming 2025-26 season, logistical challenges, uncertainty about the start date of EU deforestation rules, and the concentration of sales to the US in the face of potential trade tariffs under a Trump administration.
Before questioning the utility of the specialty coffee movement (from which we have all benefited, including those who criticize it today), the real question we should try to answer is whether coffee producers are making more profits with these high prices in the New York C market? And the answer is a resounding NO! Therefore, specialty importers and roasters continue to pay more and better for the lots we buy directly, because we buy them directly!!! and not from a New York stock broker - speculator.
The greatest impact that the specialty coffee industry has given, is that it has allowed small coffee producers to maximize their economic formula through lot separation. That is, considering each lot produced as a unique and individual product and assigning a price to it based on its quality, to the detriment of the commercial coffee model of macro-lots and commodities.
Enjoy your coffee and remember that everything is perfectible, even specialty coffee.
Before questioning the utility of the specialty coffee movement (from which we have all benefited, including those who criticize it today), the real question we should try to answer is whether coffee producers are making more profits with these high prices in the New York C market? And the answer is a resounding NO! Therefore, specialty importers and roasters continue to pay more and better for the lots we buy directly, because we buy them directly!!! and not from a New York stock broker - speculator.
The greatest impact that the specialty coffee industry has given, is that it has allowed small coffee producers to maximize their economic formula through lot separation. That is, considering each lot produced as a unique and individual product and assigning a price to it based on its quality, to the detriment of the commercial coffee model of macro-lots and commodities.
Enjoy your coffee and remember that everything is perfectible, even specialty coffee.
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