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Takeaways

• Costa Rica's commercial coffee history dates back to the 1830s.
• Producers initially struggled to find markets for their coffee.
• Direct trade routes were established by shipping entrepreneur William Le Lacheur.
• Costa Rican coffee was often exported through Chile to Europe.
• The lack of infrastructure hindered coffee distribution in early years.
• William Le Lacheur played a crucial role in connecting Costa Rican coffee to England.
• Costa Rican coffee producers were determined to improve their market situation.
• The legacy of Costa Rican coffee includes advancements in processing technology.
• Costa Rican coffee was recognized for its quality even before the specialty coffee movement.
• The determination of coffee producers has shaped the industry's evolution in Costa Rica.

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The Social Clip

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Takeaways

• Coffee forecasts are essentially opinions based on various data points.
• Mother nature plays a significant role in coffee production outcomes.
• Forecasts can vary widely and are often influenced by market sentiment.
• Understanding the factors behind forecasts is crucial for industry stakeholders.
• The coffee market is sensitive to changes in production estimates.
• Export trends from major coffee-producing countries impact global supply.
• Consumption patterns in countries like Brazil are changing significantly.
• Forecasts are not static and should be revisited regularly.
• Market prices are influenced by the balance of supply and demand.
• The coffee industry relies on a mix of scientific data and anecdotal evidence.

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"The last of the coffee-carrying sailing vessels to reach the United States was the bark Padang, which arrived in New York on Christmas day, 1914." -WH Ukers

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Takeaways

• Processing is crucial for flavor development in coffee.
• Historical context shows the evolution of coffee processing methods.
• Washed and natural processing methods yield different flavor profiles.
• The rise of semi-washed and honey processes reflects innovation in coffee.
• Costa Rica has played a pivotal role in coffee processing advancements.
• Consumer preferences influence the popularity of processing methods.
• Anaerobic and co-fermented coffees are gaining traction in specialty coffee.
• Digestive processing.

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Takeaways

• Dave Zachary is the controller at Covoya Specialty Coffee.
• Dave enjoys numbers and has a background in business analysis.
• The team at Covoya embraces challenges together.
• Memorable moments include moving to a new office and implementing a new ERP system.
• Team dynamics are lively and collaborative at Covoya.
• Dave emphasizes the importance of passion in the coffee industry.
• The culture at Covoya is non-corporate and supportive.

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Takeaways

• Robusta was once considered the enemy of specialty coffee.
• The stigma against Robusta was deeply emotional and personal.
• Not all Robusta is of low quality; it varies significantly.
• Robusta's global production share has increased dramatically.
• Robusta plays a crucial role in meeting coffee demand.
• Robusta was first cultivated commercially in the late 19th century.
• Robusta's reputation has improved due to quality advancements.
• The rise of instant coffee helped Robusta gain acceptance.
• Climate change poses a threat to coffee supply.
• It's time to reconsider Robusta's role in the coffee industry.

Written Blog: Life and Times of Robusta

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"All that this report does is tell them, are they long or are they short? If they're long, they are hoping or betting that the prices will go up. And if they're short, they're hoping or betting that the price will go down. And so what we do then is look at these different types of participants in the market and the report tells us if they are long or if they're short. And it tells us if that position has changed from the prior report. Because if a change, a significant change,  like either less long or less short or going from net long to net short, it would be an indication of a change in sentiment. So this segment of the market now believes that prices will go up or this segment of the market now believes that prices will go down. Does that mean they will go up or down? No. It does not. But it's important for you to know and helpful for you to know if the people who basically make their living  looking at the market and have skin in the game."

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

COT Chart for Coffee from Barchart.com

Market-Bulls.com

Tradingster.com

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Takeaways

• Coffee consumption has remained steady despite rising prices.
• Many consumers are changing their purchasing behaviors in response to costs.
• 52% of respondents will not change their coffee format even if prices rise.
• Older coffee drinkers are feeling the financial pinch more than younger ones.
• The balance of coffee consumed at home versus out of home remains constant.
• A significant percentage of consumers are switching to less expensive coffee formats.
• Financial well-being impacts coffee purchasing decisions.
• The trend of portion control is influencing coffee format choices.
• Consumer habits are evolving in response to economic conditions.

WRITTEN BLOG

This blog is based on information from the National Coffee Association (NCA) National Coffee Data Trends Fall 2025 Report. I provided here a handful of statistics, but it should be noted, I barely scratch the surface of what is available within the report. The full report provides over 100 pages of comprehensive and detailed data on a vast variety of issues important to coffee professionals. I encourage anyone with the means to purchase the full report from the NCA. 

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Takeaways

• Although it's been announced that reciprocal tariffs on coffee are no longer in effect as of Friday, November 14th at 12:01 am, punitive tariffs, like those being applied to Brazil and India, remain in place for now. 
• So, tariff on Brazilian coffee has gone from 50% to 40%. 
• Refunds from the government are unlikely.
• There are some positive signs that the punitive tariffs on Brazil might also end but nobody really knows what will happen.
• The market did not react bearishly to the rollback on coffee tariffs as some might have expected.

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Takeaways

• The Intercontinental Exchange is analogous to a bank, making money from fees, services, and interest.
• Only certain countries can tender coffee to the exchange, some at the C price ("at par"), some at a premium, and some at a discount.
• There are Exchange licensed warehouses in several U.S. cities and four cities in Europe. Some of these warehouse also come at a premium or a discount.
• Buyers do not get to choose what coffee they will receive when they buy coffee from The Exchange.
• High prices incentivize coffee being tenders to the exchange to become certified stock.

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