Production & Trade
COFFEE FARMERS work hard to produce consistent harvests year-round, yet they are generally "price takers", especially smallholders. And while the industry is focusing more on transparency on the consumer side, it may not be as effective as we think. A coffee price guide has become an industry standard – a way for roasters to show how much they are paying their producers.
AI Is developing at an uncontrollable rate, and the coffee industry is swiftly moving into uncharted territory in which coffee production will be left unregulated. How can we use AI to benefit all in the industry?
For some, the coffee industry’s social sustainability goals are not ambitious enough and the whole supply chain must be decolonised: a scenario in which control over the final product is put back into the hands of those who produced it.
The term "micro lot" should denote a coffee that adds value to the producer end, supports growing regions and offers stability. This definition does not have to lose its sense of “quality”, but purchasers need to buy into the sustainability of the coffee they purchase.
The US dollar performs an outsized role as a common currency in the trade of coffee. Is it time to seek alternatives?
Countries became increasingly reliant on one another following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Now, the process is in reverse.
Some fine robustas sell for little more than a commodity arabica coffee. But there are barriers in the way.
The land available to grow high-quality arabica is expected to predicted to halve by 2050. But we shouldn't pin our hopes on robusta.
The purchase of ailing coffee farms has become a long-term solution for those with the resources to invest in them.
Covid-19 and rising costs have accelerated technology in the coffee sector – but on a farm level, little has changed.
A monetary union could drive down the global price of coffee – and make farming more expensive for Brazilians.
Coffea eugenioides burst onto the international scene at the 2021 World Barista Championships. Two years on, it is almost impossible to get hold of.
The influence of coffee associations grew after the ICO's price agreement collapsed in 1989. But direct trade now presents a more attractive alternative for many.
The cupping table represents a critical moment for coffee producers. But for too many, water is creating unnecessary obstacles.
The cost of fertiliser has soared since the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The impact of long-term productivity losses is expected to be high.
Some believe that a low C price is better for specialty coffee’s value proposition – but others say this view is too simplistic.
High arabica prices and soaring inflation has triggered a renewed interest in the species.
Coffee cooperatives have existed since the first half of the 20th century.
El Salvador’s coffee sector produced an average of 2.5m bags per year in the period 1963-89.
Coffee and wine have been increasingly compared since the 1990s. They couldn't be more different.