Coffee as Commodity: Why are Prices on the Rise?

You may have noticed coffee prices rising recently. As a matter of fact, all commodities have been rising lately. Gold, silver, agriculture, meat and livestock, sugar, and cotton have all been steadily rising, but coffee has been affected in different ways. Poor crops in Vietnam and Brazil due to inclement weather, and below-par crop production in key Arabica bean producing Colombia have created a decrease in supply while the demand remains steady for the world’s most popular “pick me up” beverage.

In addition to poor crop production, we are also dealing with the possibility that the government will print more money to boost the economy, which in turn would undermine the dollar and force commodity prices to soar as investors look to protect against the risk of inflation.

Also, on a larger scale, because the population continues to grow, many small coffee producing farms are being forced out to give the land over to biofuels to support the growing population, not to mention the growing cost of fuel which makes it much harder for these farms to produce and ship their coffee. There are at least 25 million small coffee producers worldwide who rely on coffee for a living. For instance, in Brazil alone, where almost a third of the world’s coffee is produced, over 5 million people are employed in the cultivation and harvesting of over 3 billion coffee plants. Unfortunately, because of rising costs, many of the people employed by these farms are not getting paid what they were before, and are moving on to factory work or something else that will earn them a better living.

Finally, climate change is a huge factor in the production of coffee. According to Miles Small, editor and co-owner of Coffee Talk Magazine, "We're running out of arable land.” He said Brazil, which grows half of the world's coffee, has lost 28 percent of its arable land because of climate factors. He said coffee production in all of Central America is down by 38 percent."There is no way to increase productivity through mechanization." In addition, land is being repurposed throughout Latin America due to a growing middle class.

Although it is likely you may notice your coffee prices going up a little in the cafes and grocery stores, coffee is a fluctuating commodity and is ever changing. Just like any other commodity, there are many variables that affect production and price. So, don’t worry, your hot cup of joe will still be there in the morning, and for many mornings left to come!

The Big Freeze

To freeze or not to freeze, a question that has long plagued coffee drinkers, from those who enjoy a good cup at home or at the office, to aficionados alike. This article will discuss why it’s not a good idea to freeze your coffee and also some good storage techniques.

The biggest problem is that people don’t realize that coffee is a perishable item. Is has a shelf life, similar to that of wine, so buying your favorite coffee in large quantities and putting it in your freezer for 6 months, one year, two years…the longer you have it, the more it loses its quality and flavor.

The most important thing to remember is that coffee is very sensitive to oxygen, water, excessive heat and direct sunlight. It is best to keep it in a stable, cool environment. It is definitely not recommended to freeze your coffee if you can help it at all, especially for long periods of time, but if you purchase more coffee than you can consume in a two week period, separate it into two week portions. Keep one in a dry, sealed container for consumption and put each additional portion into freeze proof containers and eliminate as much air as possible. When you need more coffee, pull another two week portion out of the freezer and transfer the coffee into the original short-term container. We’ll get into storage containers in a moment, but remember once you pull coffee from the freezer, do not under any circumstance put it back into the freezer!

Refrigerators are a major no-no for coffee. The temperature of a fridge is generally around 37 degrees; the water that is inside doesn’t freeze. There is a cold mist that will linger on the coffee. Also, there are scents and flavor molecules floating around in the refrigerator that coffee can absorb. Under no circumstance should you use the refrigerator for storing coffee!

So, really, the best thing to do if you have a type of coffee you absolutely love…drink it!

That brings us to how to store that delicious bag of coffee you just brought home from Maui Coffee Roasters, so that you have an optimal cup each time you drink it.

It’s very simple, really. All you have to do is keep it in an air tight container, at room temperature, and away from light. You can really use any container that is airtight. You can even use Tupperware, but be sure to line it with paper to keep the light out, and make sure it is sealed.

You can use any form of ceramic, metal, or class container as long as it has a seal on the lid which makes it air tight. Or if you really want 100% air tightness, you can purchase a container with a vacuum sealer (such as vacu vin) on it.

Following these easy steps will allow your cup of coffee to be consistently delicious every time! Enjoy!

Just for Kicks!

Ah, the Mona Lisa, an iconic art symbol.

In this case, can you guess what she is made of in this large scale street piece?

Keep looking!

How about now? Any guesses?

Artist assistants stand next to 3,604 cups of coffee which have been made into a giant Mona Lisa in Sydney , Australia . The 3,604 cups of coffee were each filled with different amounts of milk to create the different shades!!

Coffee vs. Tea

There seems to a general rivalry that has developed and perpetuates between the worlds of Coffee and Tea. This seems somewhat logical, considering that they are both usually served after meals, both usually share the same supermarket space and both are developing gourmet markets from more commercial pasts.

Such tight competition is sure to bring animosities. To win the market, these industries have tried their hardest to put as much distance between each other as possible. Coffee often touts its ability to energize, while characterizing tea as a drink for the sick. Tea, on the other hand, boasts amazing health benefits, while painting Coffee as a stomach-destroying poison. In this article we'll put aside our differences and discuss the similarities between the two hottest drinks available.

Both Coffee and Tea have legendary pasts. Tea was discovered by the ancient Chinese ruler Shen Nung, when a fateful leaf fell into his boiling water. The similarly serendipitous story of Coffee dates back to the 1400's, when a Yemeni shepherd named Kaldi noticed that his sheep began to act unusually frisky after eating berries from an unfamiliar plant. Curious, Kaldi picked one and popped it into his mouth. Within a few minutes, he was as hyperactive as a kid after Halloween (well, Halloween wasn't practiced in Yemen, but you get the point). He told of his discovery of this stimulating shrub to a nearby town (called "Mocha") and its fame quickly spread.

Amazingly, the history of the two followed nearly identical paths. Coffee and tea were introduced to England within seven years of each other. Both were first enjoyed under the reign of Charles II (nicknamed "Milk and Sugar Charlie" for his fondness for these additions to both the drinks). In 1652, the first coffeehouse opened in England - the same year the first tea samples arrived to the country. Tea, however, became the favorite due to the fact that it was easier to make.

Now, let's examine the two scientifically. Both Tea and Coffee plants are members of the evergreen family. If allowed to grow naturally, both would develop into fairly large trees. But both plants are kept trimmed to the height of a shrub, so they can be manageably harvested. Both plants produce a drink whose flavor is subtly affected by the growing conditions, such as soil condition, moisture, surrounding vegetation, etc. Both Coffee and Tea have been naturally imparted with a chemical that provides stimulation, caffeine. Also, both drinks come from dried versions of a part of the plant. Finally, both use very similar methods of preparation.

In the US, Coffee is the #1 hot drink. This title was usurped from tea relatively recently following the explosion of coffee houses. Fifteen years or so ago, when all that was readily available were low-grade coffees such as Sanka, the market was relatively equal. Then, with the surge of the popular coffee houses and America’s obsession with finding the best roast on the best bean, and, in turn, the roasters giving it to them, coffee popularity increased.

Worldwide, tea is still the first choice in hot beverages, but this is merely a matter of personal taste.

Whatever drink you may prefer, make sure you choose based on quality. By supporting those purveyors that are striving for quality, you'll raise the bar for the trade as a whole.

What's your tea type?

Types of Tea

All tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. The styles of tea are produced by altering the shape and chemistry of the leaf. Once this alteration is complete, all teas are finished by drying the leaves.

The primary process in the way a tea leaf is processed is oxidation. This will also determine how the tea will be classified, depending on the amount and process of oxidation. Oxidation is the natural process by which enzymes inside the tea leaf are exposed to oxygen. You can see the same process in a piece of fruit left out. As the air hits the enzymes, the fruit slowly starts to turn brown. This process in tea leaves can be sped up by rolling, cutting, or crushing the leaves. If you were to cut or bruise the piece of fruit, it too will speed up the oxidation process. The oxidation process is stopped by drying the leaf down to at least 5-6% moisture content or less to prevent the remaining enzymes from interacting with the oxygen in the air.

NOTE: Oxidation is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to by some in the tea industry as fermentation. This is likely a mistaken comparison to the more familiar fermentation process involved in converting grapes into wine.

The four basic styles of tea, in order from least oxidized to most oxidized, are White, Green, Oolong and Black.

White Tea is relatively unprocessed, and has been allowed to oxidize very little. The name is derived from the fuzzy, white "hairs" that appear on the unopened or recently opened buds of new growth on the tea plant. Because they are typically comprised of the newest leaves which the plant has been pouring its energy into, they also tend to have the highest antioxidant content. In practice, some white teas, like the Chinese White Peony, undergo a multi-step process of steaming and drying that does result in some uneven oxidation which can be seen in the varying shades of green in the open leaf and even some brown around the outside edges of individual leaves. White teas produce a very pale green, or yellow liquor and are the most delicate in flavor and aroma.

Green Tea is typically subjected to a multi-step process of steaming, pan-firing, and/or rolling before being dried to freeze the oxidation process. Little oxidation occurs in most green teas, and they are differentiated from white teas primarily by the extra steps of manipulating or processing the leaf before drying. The liquor of a green tea is typically a green or yellow color, and flavors range from grassy to sweet with mild astringency.

Oolong Tea is also subjected to a multi-step process of steaming, pan-firing or rolling but is also set out and allowed to "wither" which gives the leaf time to oxidize. Oolongs usually ranging between 20% and 80% oxidized. This range results in a dramatic variety of colors, (from green to nearly black) and an equally dramatic variety of flavors and aromas. Oolongs typically are bolder in flavor than Green or White teas, and offer less astringency than either the stronger Black or lighter Green teas. Because of their smooth yet rich flavor profiles, Oolongs are ideal for those new to tea drinking.

Black Tea undergoes similar processing to Green and Oolong teas but is allowed to oxidize more completely. The brewed liquor of a Black tea ranges between dark brown and deep red. Black teas offer the strongest flavors and, in some cases, greatest astringency. Black teas are the only style of tea regularly drunk with milk and sugar (though some dark Oolong drinkers may disagree) and are the most popular bases for iced tea.

Pu-Erh Tea undergoes similar processing to Green teas but then is allowed to undergo an entirely unique process of fermentation over an extended period of time (sometimes many years). Pu erh teas are often pressed into dense cakes or other decorative shapes. They are known for their unusual status as the only aged, fermented teas and are prized for their earthy, musty aroma, and rich, smooth taste.