February 8, 2022

Why did coffee producers use their own currency in the 19th century?

In recent years, we’ve seen a lot of discussion about “tokenising” coffee using blockchain technology. This would see the use of coffee tokens (“worth” a...

December 14, 2021

How does the price of coffee affect availability and supply?

If you were in a business that suddenly became 10 times more profitable overnight, how would you react?  You would probably stay in the business,...

June 17, 2021

What would happen if coffee became more expensive?

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?  If a filter coffee cost the same as a glass of whiskey, would you drink...

October 14, 2019

Why Greater Coffee Consumption May Not Mean More Beans Sold

Many of us are aware that coffee consumption is rising. That’s good for producers, because rise in demand (with constant production or supply) puts upward...

July 18, 2019

Will Brazil’s Sudden Frost Increase Global Coffee Prices?

A recent frost in Brazil’s coffee-producing regions had the coffee industry in hot debate at this year’s World Producers Forum and elsewhere. At first impression,...

June 20, 2019

What’s a Fair Price For Coffee? Interpreting Transparency Data

It’s becoming increasingly common to see consumers, roasters, and coffee shops demand more transparency in the coffee industry. Green coffee bean importers and exporters are...

June 4, 2019

Coffee Farm Management: How to Determine Your Production Cost

Looking at your expenses while the C price is so low might make you feel hopeless. But knowing your production cost can be empowering. It...

February 23, 2018

Minimum Green Coffee Prices: Common Sense or Catastrophe?

A minimum green coffee price, based on the cost of production: this idea was the talk of the town at the World Coffee Producers’ Forum...

April 5, 2017

40 Hours in The Life of a Colombian Green Bean Buyer

Sourcing green coffee is not a Condé Nast experience. “At the crack of dawn, I put on my boots and head out to the fields...

July 28, 2016

How Micro Mills Help Producers to Have Economic Independence

The drive for social and economic justice for coffee producers has been growing steadily over the last decade, yet we still have a lot to...

June 22, 2016

What Effect Does The C Market Have on Small Coffee Farmers?

In most markets, the smaller businesses are the most vulnerable. Coffee is no exception to this. Fairtrade calculates that 80% of the world’s coffee is...

June 8, 2016

An Unstable Market: Economics of Global Coffee Price

“Why does the price they pay us change?” I was stood in front of 50 farmers in an un-airconditioned one-room K-12 schoolhouse in Espinal, Tolima,...