State of the Company - November
Over in Brazil, things are getting a little tense for the bean crew. Several of the major growing regions are dealing with hotter than usual temperatures and dry spells, and that’s putting stress on the coffee plants right at bloom or bean-set time. Add in early whispers of frost risk and you’ve got a cocktail of worry for flower and yield outcomes. For producers working largely with Arabica, these conditions are driving tighter supply of the premium stuff.
Meanwhile, Colombia is facing its own challenges. Recent heavy rainfall and shifting climate patterns, think wetter soils, delayed drying, more time for pests and disease to sneak in, are putting pressure on the crop. Quality could take a hit, and fewer standby lots are showing up in export pipelines than in a “normal” season.
What does this all mean for the coffee you love? Simply put: availability is a bit less certain, and origin markets are seeing more competition for the beans that are showing up. That doesn’t necessarily mean your favorite roast will disappear soon, but it does mean the early warning lights are glowing. Traders and roasters are having to keep a sharper eye on what’s available, how fast it moves, and how much premium producers are asking.
On the supply chain side it’s not just about the fields this season. Freight and logistics costs remain a wildcard, and when you combine tighter origin supply + higher movement costs + quality concerns, the landed cost of good green beans naturally creeps upward.
For us, we’re staying plugged in. We’re watching the weather in Brazil and Colombia, tracking yield/quality reports, listening to what exporters and co-ops are saying about what’s really ready vs what’s being held back, and monitoring forward contract signals so we can understand if “normal” cost levels are shifting.
Bottom line: your next cup today is safe and stable, but we wanted you to know why some of the costs and choices behind the scenes are more interesting than ever. If origin conditions keep moving in this direction, we’ll be ready with clear updates and we’ll keep you in the loop.