Coffee Intelligence Round-Up December 30th

Our coverage includes emerging market trends, challenges at origin, technological innovation, and human interest stories.

Production & Trade

Colombia has long been viewed as the ultimate source for experimental coffees. For decades it has been synonymous with high-quality microlots with exceptional processing standards.

Colombia’s microlot market share is shrinking alongside a reported 20% increase in coffee production in 2024, driven by competition and high production costs.

Jordan Montgomery speaks with Miguel Hoyos Uribe about how refined innovation may be required to beat more competitive value propositions.

Consumption & Trends

In the fast-paced world of specialty coffee, baristas and shop owners obsess over sourcing the finest beans, perfecting brewing methods, and crafting the perfect pour.

Cynical memes about cleaning coffee gear flood the internet – but the reality isn’t so funny. Neglecting coffee equipment can lead to harmful bacteria and mould, studies warn.

Sarah Charles speaks with Jason Bond and Nastasia Pavlis of Cafetto about how clean equipment isn’t optional – it protects your business from wear, tear, and unhappy customers.

News & Opinions

Starbucks, the world’s largest café chain and a buyer of 3% of the world’s coffee, has taken a risky gamble in its approach to coffee purchasing. Starbucks cut coffee hedging from $1B in 2019 to $200M amid a 70% price surge this year. By relying on price-to-be-fixed contracts, Starbucks is shifting risk to an uncertain future.

Sarah Charles speaks with Ryan Delany (Coffee Trading Academy, LLC) about how Starbucks and many small to mid-sized roasters are betting on future price drops but risk hefty costs if prices remain high.

What else is brewing?

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