Author: Qahwa World

Traditional Cafés Decline in Russia

Posted on by Qahwa World

Moscow – Qahwa World

Russia’s coffee landscape is undergoing a noticeable shift. While coffee consumption in the country remains relatively stable, the number of traditional coffee shops has been shrinking as consumer habits evolve and competition intensifies.

Data from 2GIS shows that the number of classic cafés across Russia declined by 13% over the past year, reaching approximately 7,700 locations by February 2026.

The decline has been especially visible in the country’s largest urban centers. In Moscow, the number of cafés fell by 12% to about 2,600, while Saint Petersburg experienced an even sharper drop of 23%, leaving roughly 1,600 establishments.

You may read: Russia Updates Instant Coffee Standards for the First Time in 32 Years

At the same time, other coffee formats are expanding. The number of takeaway coffee points increased by about 4%, reaching around 9,300 locations, indicating that faster and more convenient service models are gaining ground among consumers.

  • Changing daily routines

Coffee culture in Russia has grown rapidly over the past decade, reflecting a broader global expansion of café culture. However, recent consumer behavior suggests that some daily habits are shifting.

  • According to Ramaz Chanturia, director general of Roschaikofe, many consumers have begun practicing what he describes as “reasonable savings.” Some customers who once bought coffee on the way to work now prepare their drinks at home more frequently.
  • More than just the price of beans

The price of a cup of coffee in a café reflects more than the cost of raw coffee. Customers are also paying for a range of services and operational expenses, including rent, equipment, utilities, staff salaries, and the atmosphere that cafés provide.

Read also: Russia’s Imports of Brazilian Coffee Fall to Six-Month Low

These costs can place pressure on independent coffee shops, particularly when competition from lower-priced alternatives increases.

  • Retail becomes a coffee competitor

Another factor reshaping the market is the growing role of retail chains in coffee sales. Large supermarket operators are expanding ready-to-drink coffee offerings and installing coffee stations or café-style corners inside their stores.

According to Stanislav Bogdanov, chairman of the presidium of the Association of Retail Companies, demand for ready-made coffee in retail continues to grow steadily.

Industry estimates suggest that hot beverages account for up to 3% of the fast-moving consumer goods market, with coffee becoming one of the category’s key growth drivers in recent years.

Read also: Russian Instant Coffee Exports Rise 28% to $366 Million

Retailers benefit from high customer traffic, competitive prices, and convenient locations. For many consumers, buying a cup of coffee during a grocery trip is becoming an easy alternative to visiting a traditional café.

A changing coffee ecosystem

The decline in traditional cafés does not necessarily indicate a fall in coffee drinking in Russia. Instead, it highlights a transformation in how and where people consume coffee.

As takeaway formats, home brewing, and retail coffee points continue to expand, the country’s coffee market is gradually shifting toward convenience-driven models—reshaping the role of the traditional café within Russia’s evolving coffee culture.

Potato Taste Defect Hits Great Lakes Coffee

Posted on by Qahwa World

By: Ennio Cantergiani – Académie du Café

Specialty coffee professionals know the moment well: a Rwanda or Burundi coffee expected to showcase vibrant stone fruit notes suddenly reveals the unmistakable flavor of raw potato. This phenomenon, known as the Potato Taste Defect (PTD), affects not only flavor but also the livelihoods of farmers and the economics of the coffee trade.

PTD is most commonly found in Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, with occasional cases in Tanzania and Kenya. Researchers first documented it in eastern DRC, and its biochemical mechanisms continue to be investigated.

The defect is often linked to the Antestia bug, which pierces coffee cherries, injecting saliva and fungal spores. While the bug increases the risk of PTD, it is not the direct cause. The true culprit is the bacterium Pantoea coffeiphila, which colonizes damaged cherries. This bacterium produces compounds — IPMP and IBMP — that volatilize only during roasting, resulting in the raw potato, earthy, and starchy flavors that appear in the cup. Even a single affected bean can spoil an entire brew.

Read Also: Coffee Carbon Footprint: How Sustainable Is Your Cup?

Beyond taste, PTD has economic consequences. Studies indicate the defect can reduce the price of high-quality coffee by up to 57%, and buyers often penalize entire origins, lowering prices for lots that may contain no defective beans. For farmers who rely on coffee as their primary income, this structural challenge is significant.

Preventing PTD requires care across the supply chain. On farms, removing leftover fruit, pruning trees, and targeted use of natural insecticides reduce risk. Wet mills can use flotation, visual sorting, and technologies such as UV or laser scanning to detect damaged beans. Roasters and baristas should cup multiple samples, grind smaller test batches, and purge equipment if PTD is detected, remembering that the defect is sporadic, not systemic.

PTD is not a reason to avoid coffees from Rwanda, Burundi, or DRC. Instead, it is a reason to know the origins and producers deeply. With knowledge and careful handling, the distinctive, high-quality flavors of the Great Lakes region can still shine in every cup.

Costa Rican Coffee Farmers Hit by Strong Colón and Falling Prices

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

Coffee growers across Costa Rica are facing mounting financial pressure as two powerful forces converge: a sharply stronger national currency and declining global coffee prices. Industry leaders warn that the combination could significantly reduce farm income in the coming harvest and deepen the economic strain on rural coffee communities.

For a sector long recognized for producing high-quality Arabica coffee, the current environment highlights how global market shifts and domestic economic trends can quickly reshape the outlook for producers.

  • Currency Strength Erodes Export Earnings

Coffee in Costa Rica is sold on international markets in United States dollar, while most production costs—such as wages, fertilizers, transportation, and farm maintenance—are paid in Costa Rican colón.

You may read:Brazil’s Specialty Coffee Sector Gains Global Momentum

As the colón strengthens, every dollar earned from coffee exports converts into fewer colones. This reduces the real income farmers receive even when the global coffee price remains stable.

Exchange-rate data released by the Banco Central de Costa Rica show the dollar trading near ₡470 in mid-March 2026, significantly stronger for the local currency compared with rates above ₡680 only a few years earlier.

For export sectors such as coffee, the shift has created a challenging environment. While a strong currency can help reduce the cost of imported goods for consumers, it often compresses margins for industries that rely on international sales.

  • Factors Behind the Strong Colón

Economists attribute the strength of the Costa Rican currency to several economic trends that have increased the supply of foreign currency in the country.

Read also: Global Study Maps the “Carbon Footprint” of Latin American Coffee

Strong tourism revenues, expanding exports from companies operating in special economic zones, and steady foreign investment have all contributed to increased inflows of dollars into the national economy. Lower energy import costs have also reduced the demand for foreign currency.

In response to these pressures, the Banco Central de Costa Rica has purchased large amounts of dollars in foreign-exchange markets in an effort to moderate fluctuations and build international reserves. Despite these efforts, the colón has remained relatively strong compared with historical averages.

  • Global Coffee Prices Move Lower

At the same time that currency movements are reducing local earnings, international coffee prices have begun to retreat from the highs seen in recent years.

You can also read: AI and Gas Chromatography Identify Coffee Origins

Prices for Arabica coffee traded on the Intercontinental Exchange in New York surged during 2025 amid global supply concerns. However, market sentiment has shifted as forecasts point to increased production in several major coffee-growing countries.

A major factor influencing the outlook is the expected harvest in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer. Production forecasts indicate the possibility of a larger crop in the 2026–2027 season, which could add significant supply to global markets and place additional downward pressure on prices.

For Costa Rican producers, the combination of falling prices and currency shifts means revenues could decline even further in the coming harvest cycle.

  • Rural Communities at Stake

Coffee remains a central pillar of rural economic life in Costa Rica. The industry provides employment for tens of thousands of workers throughout the year, along with additional seasonal jobs during harvest.

Production is concentrated in well-known coffee-growing regions such as Tarrazú, Pérez Zeledón, and Coto Brus, where generations of families have cultivated coffee as their primary source of income.

Small farms dominate the sector. A large majority of producers operate relatively small holdings, and many rely on modest harvest volumes each year. These producers are often the most vulnerable to price volatility and economic shocks.

Read also: ICO February 2026 Report: Has the Inflationary Wave Receded?

Over the past decade, the number of registered coffee growers in the country has declined as some farmers left the sector due to rising costs and uncertain profitability.

  • Growing Concern Among Industry Leaders

The Costa Rican Coffee Institute has described the current situation as a serious challenge for the industry and has called for continued dialogue with policymakers about possible support measures.

Proposals being discussed include improved credit access for farmers, targeted programs to support rural communities, and long-term initiatives focused on innovation, sustainability, and productivity.

Industry representatives emphasize that strengthening the resilience of coffee farms will be essential if Costa Rica is to maintain its reputation as a producer of high-quality coffee in a rapidly changing global market.

  • A Defining Moment for Costa Rica’s Coffee Sector

Costa Rica’s coffee industry has long been regarded as a symbol of national agricultural identity and quality. Yet the sector now finds itself navigating a complex mix of economic pressures beyond farmers’ control.

If global prices continue to soften while the national currency remains strong, growers may face increasingly difficult decisions about the future of their farms.

For thousands of coffee-growing families, the coming seasons could determine whether coffee cultivation remains a sustainable livelihood—or whether the country’s historic coffee landscape begins to change in fundamental ways.

Coffee Grounds for Plants: Benefits and Risks for Your Garden

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

Using leftover brewed coffee or spent coffee grounds has long been a familiar practice among gardeners looking for simple, sustainable ways to improve their soil. Research from institutions including Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Missouri, along with findings from peer-reviewed studies published in recent years, indicates that coffee residues can benefit plants—mainly when used as part of compost or as a soil amendment. Experts, however, stress that coffee grounds should not be considered a complete fertilizer.

  • Coffee Grounds Provide Several Plant Nutrients

Spent coffee grounds contain a number of nutrients useful for plant growth, though generally in modest quantities.

Nitrogen is the most significant component, typically accounting for about one to two percent of the grounds by weight. Most of this nitrogen is organic and bound in proteins, which means it becomes available slowly as soil microbes break down the material. Nitrogen plays an essential role in plant development, supporting protein formation and leafy growth.

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Coffee grounds also contain potassium, which helps regulate water balance, supports photosynthesis, and assists with nutrient movement within plants. Smaller amounts of magnesium and copper are present as well, along with trace minerals such as iron, manganese, zinc, boron, and calcium. Magnesium is particularly important because it is a central component of chlorophyll, the pigment that allows plants to convert sunlight into energy.

  • Minor amounts of phosphorus and calcium are also found in the grounds.

By contrast, the liquid left after brewing coffee contains much smaller nutrient concentrations because most solids remain in the grounds. Laboratory analyses conducted through 2025 indicate that the overall nutrient profile of coffee grounds has remained consistent, although compost mixtures that include coffee residues can show higher total nitrogen levels.

  • Soil Microbes Are the Real Beneficiaries

Researchers note that the primary benefit of coffee grounds in gardening comes from how they affect soil biology.

The organic carbon in coffee grounds provides an energy source for soil microorganisms. As these microbes break down the material, they produce humus-like substances that improve soil health. These changes can lead to better soil structure, improved water retention, and enhanced drainage.

Microbial activity can also make certain nutrients—such as phosphorus, iron, and zinc—more accessible to plants, particularly in alkaline soils. In addition, organic matter produced during decomposition may help bind certain chemicals and heavy metals in soil, reducing the risk of runoff.

Read also: Center for Circular Economy in Coffee Launches Global Survey on Spent Coffee Grounds Valorization

Recent studies continue to explore these effects. A 2025 experiment involving sunflower plants found that composted coffee grounds incorporated into soil mixtures improved germination rates and plant growth compared with untreated soil. Another trial conducted in the United Arab Emirates in 2024 reported improved radish growth and soil quality when recycled coffee-ground fertilizer was used.

  • A Possible Tool Against Slugs

Coffee may also play a limited role in pest control.

Experiments suggest that solutions containing caffeine can repel or kill slugs and snails. In laboratory tests, strong brewed coffee solutions caused these pests to leave treated areas and eventually die due to the toxic effects of caffeine.

Some gardeners also report reduced slug activity when coffee grounds are used as a surface dressing or mulch. However, researchers say evidence remains limited, and there is little scientific support for claims that coffee grounds repel cats, eliminate weeds, or control plant diseases in gardens.

  • Risks of Using Too Much Coffee in Soil

Despite its potential advantages, coffee residues can create problems if used improperly.

One of the most common misconceptions is that coffee grounds act as a complete fertilizer. In reality, they contain relatively low levels of phosphorus and calcium, and the nitrogen they provide becomes available slowly. During decomposition, microbes may temporarily use nitrogen from the soil, which can reduce the amount available to plants.

Another misunderstanding involves soil acidity. Although brewed coffee is acidic, used coffee grounds are generally close to neutral in pH. Because of this, they usually do not significantly acidify soil.

Read also: New study: coffee grounds may be beneficial for brain health

When applied in thick layers, coffee grounds can also compact and form a dense surface crust. This barrier can restrict water infiltration and limit air movement into the soil, potentially harming plant roots.

Fresh grounds may also slow seed germination or inhibit early plant growth. Compounds such as caffeine and certain plant chemicals present in raw grounds can be harmful to seedlings when used in large quantities.

Finally, leftover coffee containing milk or sugar may attract pests or encourage unwanted microbial growth.

  • How Experts Recommend Using Coffee Grounds

Garden specialists generally recommend composting coffee grounds before adding them to soil.

A balanced compost mixture might include leaves, grass clippings, and coffee grounds, with the grounds making up no more than about one-fifth of the total volume. When regularly turned and properly maintained, the compost typically becomes usable within several months.

Coffee grounds can also be incorporated directly into soil in small amounts. Mixing a thin layer into the top few inches of soil is generally considered safe. When used as mulch, the layer should remain very thin and ideally be covered with coarser organic materials such as leaves or bark to prevent compaction.

Leftover brewed coffee can sometimes be used as a diluted watering solution after it has cooled, though gardeners typically dilute it with water to reduce its strength.

  • A Useful Resource—When Used Wisely

Research suggests that coffee grounds can contribute to healthier soil when used carefully. They add organic matter, support microbial life, and may provide limited pest-repelling effects. At the same time, experts caution that excessive use can cause more problems than benefits.

For gardeners, the best approach is to treat coffee grounds as a supplementary soil amendment rather than a primary fertiliser—ideally as part of compost and combined with other proven soil-improvement practices.

AI and Gas Chromatography Identify Coffee Origins

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

Researchers have developed a new method that can help identify the country of origin of coffee by analyzing its aromatic compounds. The approach combines gas chromatography with artificial intelligence (AI) to create chemical fingerprints capable of distinguishing coffees from different producing regions.

Volatile compounds play a major role in shaping coffee’s aroma and flavor. These compounds are responsible for many of the subtle sensory notes found in brewed coffee and are often discussed in professional coffee competitions and sensory evaluations.

Scientists are now exploring how these same compounds can also serve as indicators of geographic origin.

According to a report highlighted by Chromatography Online, researchers from Italy and the United States conducted a study that will be published in the Journal of Chromatography. The team analyzed 32 roasted coffee samples provided by the Italian coffee company Illy.

You may read: Japanese Scientists: Coffee Protects Gums from Inflammation

The samples represented several major coffee-producing countries: five from Brazil, six from Colombia, and seven each from Ethiopia, Guatemala, and India.

Instead of focusing on specific chemical markers, the researchers created what they describe as an “untargeted fingerprint.” This approach generates a comprehensive chemical profile of each coffee sample, allowing both known and unknown volatile compounds to contribute to the identification process.

To build these fingerprints, the scientists used two-dimensional gas chromatography, a technique that separates and measures numerous volatile compounds present in roasted coffee. The analysis produced detailed visual maps showing the distribution and intensity of these compounds.

These chemical maps were then analyzed using computer vision, a form of artificial intelligence designed to interpret visual patterns in complex datasets. By combining the results from samples originating from the same country, the researchers created composite templates representing typical volatile compound patterns for each origin.

Read also: Study Links Moderate Coffee Consumption to Brain Health

When additional coffee samples were compared with these templates, the system was able to identify their country of origin based on their chemical signatures.

The researchers note that the study has certain limitations, as factors such as coffee variety and post-harvest processing methods may also influence the volatile compounds present in roasted coffee. Further research may be needed to determine how these variables affect the reliability of the origin templates.

Despite these limitations, the findings could offer new tools for the coffee industry. In addition to helping verify origin, the technology may contribute to more objective assessments of coffee characteristics based on measurable chemical properties.

While traditional cupping remains the primary method for evaluating coffee quality, analytical techniques such as gas chromatography combined with artificial intelligence could provide complementary scientific insights into coffee composition and origin.

Coffee Pulp in Brazil: When the Coffee Cherry Refuses to Be Waste

Posted on by Qahwa World

Why the future of coffee may depend not only on what ends up in the cup, but on how the industry learns to use everything beyond it.

By Dr. Steffen Schwarz 

The modern coffee industry has become exceptionally skilled at valuing one thing with remarkable precision: the bean.

Across the global supply chain, coffee seeds are classified by density, moisture, screen size, defect counts, volatile compounds, roast response, extraction behavior, and cup profile. They are traded across oceans, insured, hedged, certified, marketed, and, in the finest corners of the sector, narrated with almost ritual reverence.

Yet behind this sophistication lies a more uncomfortable truth: the coffee industry still operates largely as a linear economic system. Value is extracted from the coffee cherry, refined through a chain of transactions, and what remains behind is often treated as waste rather than opportunity.

That “waste” is not small. In fact, it represents the majority of the coffee fruit.

The green bean that dominates the imagination of producers, traders, roasters, and baristas is only a fraction of the material reality of coffee. The skin, pulp, mucilage, parchment, husk, silverskin, and spent grounds together form a vast landscape of underused biomass.

You may Read: India’s Quiet Coffee Superpower

For decades, the conventional coffee economy has largely ignored these materials because they fall outside the narrow scope of the primary commercial product. Nature, however, does not recognize waste in the same way human supply chains do. It recognizes nutrients, energy, cycles, and time.

  • Rethinking the Coffee Economy

This is where the idea of a circular coffee economy becomes transformative.

Circularity is not merely another sustainability slogan. It challenges the very way the coffee industry understands value creation. Instead of treating everything beyond the bean as residue, it invites the sector to see the entire coffee cherry as part of a broader economic and ecological system.

Once this perspective is adopted, coffee no longer appears as a simple value chain running from farm to cup. It begins to resemble a living network where ecological health, agricultural practices, processing technologies, materials science, consumer behavior, and farmer livelihoods are deeply interconnected.

  • This shift comes at a crucial moment.

Coffee production is increasingly under pressure from climate change. Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increased disease pressure are reshaping the environments where coffee—especially Arabica—has historically thrived. Producers are often forced to move cultivation to higher altitudes, placing additional pressure on fragile forest ecosystems.

At the same time, soil health is declining in many growing regions, input costs remain volatile, and smallholder farmers frequently carry the economic risks of a system they did not design.

The traditional model of coffee production is therefore not only environmentally incomplete—it is strategically fragile.

  • The Hidden Scale of Coffee Biomass

Coffee remains one of the world’s most influential agricultural commodities, supporting economies in more than 80 producing countries and shaping daily routines for hundreds of millions of people.

Yet the scale of unused material generated by coffee processing is staggering.

According to the Coffee Development Report 2022–23, global coffee processing generates more than 40.68 million tonnes of biomass each year. Around 72% of this renewable organic material—approximately 29.34 million tonnes—originates in coffee-producing countries, where its economic potential remains largely untapped.

You may also read: Invisible Gravity in Coffee

More than 86% of the coffee cherry is typically discarded as agricultural waste or by-products. By the time coffee becomes the beverage celebrated worldwide, only a small fraction of the original fruit remains in the cup.

This single statistic fundamentally challenges the traditional perception of value in the coffee sector.

For more than a century, coffee has been marketed as though the bean were the entire product and everything else merely a logistical problem. In biophysical terms, the opposite is closer to reality: the bean is simply the most commercially visible fraction of a much larger material system.

  • From Waste to Resource

Mismanaged biological residues from coffee production can create serious environmental problems. Improperly handled pulp, wastewater, and organic waste contribute to water pollution, oxygen depletion in ecosystems, and greenhouse gas emissions.

But once these materials are viewed as resources rather than waste, entirely new possibilities emerge.

Coffee pulp and husk can be used for compost, fertilizers, biochar, food ingredients, fibers, fuels, and biomaterials. Silverskin—the thin layer released during roasting—can be transformed into valuable compounds. Spent coffee grounds can enter industrial applications ranging from energy production and biocomposites to textiles, paper, and construction materials.

None of these pathways will scale automatically. But the conceptual shift is profound.

The question is no longer whether value exists beyond the bean. The real question is who will capture that value, where it will be developed, and who will benefit from it.

  • Keeping Value at Origin

A key challenge is ensuring that circular innovation benefits coffee-producing regions rather than shifting most economic value to consumer markets.

If new uses for coffee by-products emerge primarily in wealthy countries while producing nations remain responsible for waste management and environmental costs, the promise of circularity risks becoming hollow.

A genuine circular coffee economy must expand value creation at origin. Farmers, cooperatives, and local enterprises should have the opportunity to participate in emerging markets for by-products, technologies, and materials derived from coffee.

This is where regenerative agriculture becomes closely linked to circular thinking.

Regenerative systems emphasize soil health, biodiversity, water management, and ecological resilience. Practices such as agroforestry, cover cropping, improved nutrient cycling, and reduced reliance on synthetic inputs can strengthen farming systems while supporting long-term productivity.

Circularity without regeneration risks becoming merely a materials strategy applied to an exhausted agricultural base.

  • From Value Chain to Value Circle

The coffee industry often speaks about the “coffee value chain.” But the concept of a chain suggests a one-directional process: inputs enter at one end, value exits at the other.

The future of coffee may depend less on perfecting that chain and more on creating a circular system where materials, nutrients, and economic benefits continuously flow through interconnected loops.

In such a model, farmers, processors, traders, roasters, retailers, and consumers all become part of a broader ecosystem rather than isolated links in a linear sequence.

Read also: The Coffee Leaf’s Second Life

This transition will require new forms of collaboration across disciplines that historically operated separately—agronomy, processing, roasting, packaging, sustainability management, and policy.

A Strategic Opportunity for the Coffee Sector

The shift toward circular coffee systems presents challenges. Knowledge remains fragmented, regulations for by-products are inconsistent, and infrastructure for recovery and reuse varies widely across regions.

Small and medium-sized enterprises also face significant risks when attempting to scale new applications for coffee by-products.

  • Yet the opportunity is equally significant.

Circularity has the potential to create new income streams for farmers, new materials for industry, improved environmental outcomes, and a more resilient global coffee system.

For the coffee sector, this is not merely a sustainability conversation—it is a strategic one.

The next era of knowledge in coffee will not come solely from deeper understanding of roasting curves, fermentation techniques, or flavor chemistry. It will emerge from learning to see the coffee system as a whole.

Because the future of coffee may ultimately depend on a simple question asked at the edge of a processing station, beside a pile of discarded cherry pulp:

What if this is not a waste but the beginning of something new?

Coffee Prices Rise as Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Shipping

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

Coffee prices climbed on Thursday as escalating tensions in the Middle East raised concerns about global supply chains and shipping routes.

May arabica coffee futures increased by 6.75 points (2.35%), while May robusta contracts gained 82 points (2.31%), reflecting market reactions to geopolitical developments affecting maritime trade.

The rise follows reports that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping corridor, could face disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Statements from Iranian leadership suggested the strategic waterway could be used as leverage, while defense officials in the United Kingdom indicated evidence that mines may be placed in the strait.

The potential closure of the route has pushed up global shipping rates, insurance costs, and fuel expenses, increasing operational costs for coffee importers, traders, and roasters worldwide.

You may read: Global Coffee Exports Surge Amid Asian Growth and Latin American Decline

However, gains in coffee prices remain limited due to favorable weather conditions in Brazil. Forecasts indicate rainfall in major coffee-growing regions, which could support crop development and ease supply concerns.

Adding further pressure on prices, commodity analytics firm StoneX raised its forecast for Brazil’s 2026/27 coffee production to a record 75.3 million bags, compared with its previous estimate of 70.7 million bags.

Meteorological data from Somar Meteorologia also showed that Brazil’s largest arabica-producing region, Minas Gerais, received 14.9 mm of rainfall last week, equivalent to about 35% of the historical average.

Meanwhile, Brazilian export data offered some support to the market. According to Cecafe, Brazil’s green coffee exports fell 27% year-on-year in February, while the country’s Trade Ministry reported a 17.4% annual decline, bringing total shipments to 142,000 metric tons.

Inventory movements are also shaping market sentiment. Stocks of arabica monitored by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) recently reached a five-month high of 564,626 bags before easing slightly to 552,192 bags. Robusta inventories also rose to a 3.5-month high earlier this month before declining modestly.

Read also: ICO February 2026 Report: Has the Inflationary Wave Receded?

Earlier in February, coffee prices dropped sharply amid expectations of a strong Brazilian crop. Brazil’s agricultural supply agency Conab projected the country’s 2026 coffee production at 66.2 million bags, including 44.1 million bags of arabica and 22.1 million bags of robusta.

On a global scale, Rabobank estimates coffee production could reach 180 million bags in the 2026/27 season, an increase of roughly 8 million bags compared with the previous year.

Vietnam, the world’s largest robusta producer, continues to influence market dynamics. Government statistics show Vietnam’s coffee exports rose 14% year-on-year in January–February 2026 to 366,000 metric tons, while exports in 2025 climbed 17.5% to 1.58 million metric tons. Production in the 2025/26 season is projected to reach 1.76 million metric tons, the highest level in four years.

Read Also: Coffee Prices Drop on Brazil Weather and Rising Stocks

Despite these supply signals, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) reported that global coffee exports for the current marketing year have declined 0.3% year-on-year to 138.658 million bags.

Looking ahead, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service forecasts global coffee production in 2025/26 at 178.848 million bags, with arabica output expected to decline 4.7% and robusta production projected to increase 10.9%. Ending global stocks are expected to fall 5.4% to 20.148 million bags.

Market analysts say the coffee sector remains caught between geopolitical risks affecting trade routes and expectations of strong global production, creating a volatile outlook for prices in the months ahead.

Global Coffee Exports Surge Amid Asian Growth and Latin American Decline

Posted on by Qahwa World

LONDON – Qahwa World

The latest report from the International Coffee Organization reveals profound shifts in the global trade landscape, as total coffee exports across all forms surged to 12.62 million bags in January, marking a 13.7% increase compared to the same month last year. This growth was primarily driven by an exceptional performance in the Robusta sector, which successfully offset a significant contraction in shipments from major producers in South America, reflecting a fundamental change in the global supply structure.

Data highlights a dominant performance by the Asia & Oceania region, which achieved a 54.4% growth in exports. Vietnam led this surge with 3.99 million bags exported—a 73.3% annual increase—as the country accelerated shipments to clear inventories ahead of national holidays. Africa also maintained a strong presence with 14.2% growth, notably led by Ethiopia, which saw a 51.5% jump in shipments, confirming the recovery of supply chains and the continent’s ability to capture new market shares.

You may Read: ICO February 2026 Report: Has the Inflationary Wave Receded?

In contrast, South America faced a different reality, with exports declining by 21.3%. This downturn was directly impacted by a drop in shipments from Brazil and Colombia, ranging between 19% and 22%, following unfavorable localized weather conditions. This trend extended to Mexico and Central America, which recorded a 4.2% decrease, with Honduras suffering a sharp 28.7% drop in shipments due to logistical challenges and seasonal labor shortages still hindering the pace of exports in that region.

By category, Robusta exports grew by a staggering 49.1% to reach 5.25 million bags, accounting for a larger share of the global green bean trade at 48.4%. Furthermore, the data reveals a strategic shift toward value addition in origin countries, as exports of roasted coffee jumped by 25.2%. This indicates a growing desire among producers to move beyond raw material exports toward local manufacturing to maximize economic returns amidst the rapid changes in the global coffee sector.

ICO February 2026 Report: Has the Inflationary Wave Receded?

Posted on by Qahwa World

LONDON – Qahwa World

The latest monthly report issued by the International Coffee Organization for February 2026 has revealed a dramatic shift that could redefine the global coffee market dynamics for years to come. After a prolonged period of scarcity and record-high prices that strained both suppliers and consumers, the report announced a sharp decline in price indicators. This shift is driven by a “tsunami” of anticipated supplies from Brazil and Vietnam, officially placing the market on the verge of a historic surplus that ends a three-year cycle of consecutive deficits.

  • Price Earthquake

In February, the Organization’s Composite Indicator Price (I-CIP) averaged 267.57 US cents/lb, representing a sharp 9.9% decrease compared to January. This decline is not merely a transient fluctuation but reflects massive selling pressure in global exchanges; the index opened the month at a peak of 289.47 cents and slid to 248.86 cents by month-end, the lowest level recorded since August 2025.

You may read: Global Coffee Market Roadmap—January 2026

None of the major categories were immune to this downward trend, with the Organization’s statistical analysis showing the following results:

  • Colombian Milds: Declined by 11.0% to settle at 330.89 cents.
  • Other Milds: Retracted by 11.7% to reach 321.35 cents.
  • Brazilian Naturals: Shrank by 10.2% to reach 308.62 cents.

Robustas: Proved most resilient, declining by only 6.6%. Experts attribute this to global roasters increasing the proportion of Robusta in their commercial blends as a strategic solution to reduce overall costs, creating sustainable demand that stabilized its price levels.

  • Brazilian and Vietnamese Winds

Organization analysts believe the fundamental reason behind this “price correction” lies in the optimistic forecasts from Brazil’s National Supply Company (CONAB), which raised expectations for the 2026/27 crop to 66.2 million bags, a massive 17.1% annual increase.

These forecasts were supported by a tangible improvement in weather conditions and regular, heavy rainfall in key growing regions such as Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, as well as improved outlooks in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. These factors prompted major international financial institutions to predict a global surplus of up to 8.64 million bags, leading large investment funds to liquidate long positions and pivot toward selling. This explains the 20.7% shrinkage in the arbitrage between the London and New York futures markets.

  • Global Trade Map

Regarding exports, January 2026 saw the shipment of 10.85 million bags of green beans, a 12.7% increase over January 2025. However, behind this headline figure lie geographical disparities reflecting specific regional logistical and production challenges:

Asia & Oceania: The region achieved a staggering 51.8% growth, with Vietnam alone exporting 3.99 million bags in January, capitalizing on accelerated shipping ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Africa: Continued its recovery with 14.2% growth. Ethiopia stood out as a strategic player with a 51.5% increase in shipments, while Uganda grew by 11.2%, reflecting a significant improvement in the continent’s internal supply chains.

South America: Recorded a surprising 21.3% decline. The biggest shock was in Colombia, where production plummeted by 34.1% due to unfavorable localized weather fluctuations, negatively impacting the flow of premium Colombian Milds to global markets.

Mexico & Central America: Registered a slight 4.2% decrease, with Honduras suffering a sharp 28.7% drop in exports due to seasonal labor shortages and logistical hurdles.

Read Also: ICO Releases Global Coffee Market Report – December 2025

  • Stocks and Processed Coffee

For the first time in months, the International Coffee Organization report indicates a slight improvement in certified stocks. New York (ICE) stocks rose by 11.4% to 0.52 million bags, while London stocks increased by 3.1% to 0.76 million bags. This rise provides a relative “safety cushion” against sudden climatic or political shocks.

A notable phenomenon in the report was the export of “Roasted Coffee,” which jumped by 25.2%. This indicates a strategic shift in origin countries toward local processing to add value to their products rather than relying solely on raw bean exports. Meanwhile, soluble coffee exports grew at a steady pace of 1.9%.

  • The Retail Paradox

The report highlighted a crucial point affecting the real economy: despite the collapse of raw coffee prices in global exchanges, retail prices in the United States jumped by 18.3% year-on-year in January 2026. This persistent inflation, totaling 47% cumulatively over five years, is mainly due to rising logistics, energy, and labor costs in consuming countries. Additionally, accumulating consumer debt is beginning to weigh on purchasing power, which may threaten the expected 1.7% growth in global consumption.

  • Future Outlook

We are entering a phase of total “reset” in coffee market balances. The market is currently moving to narrow the global deficit to just 0.4 million bags this season, paving the way for the anticipated historic surplus next year. For investors, roasters, and consumers, the February 2026 report serves as the “final whistle” for the era of frantic speculation and chronic shortages, signaling the start of a price stability phase led by Brazilian production abundance and Vietnamese logistical efficiency.

Coffee Prices Drop on Brazil Weather and Rising Stocks

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

Coffee markets fell on Wednesday amid favorable weather forecasts in Brazil and rising inventories monitored by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

May arabica futures (KCK26) were down 8.70 points (-2.94%), while May ICE robusta (RMK26) declined 137 points (-3.71%). Showers expected in key Brazilian coffee-growing regions supported the recent price drop.

ICE data shows that arabica inventories, which fell to a 1.75-year low of 396,513 bags in November, recovered to a five-month high of 564,626 bags on Tuesday. Robusta inventories also rose to a 3.5-month peak before falling slightly to 4,563 lots as of Wednesday.

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Coffee prices had partially retraced last week’s rally triggered by the Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which increased global shipping rates, fuel, and insurance costs.

Brazil’s exports also influenced the market. According to Cecafe, February green coffee shipments fell by 27% year-on-year, while the Trade Ministry reported a 17.4% decline to 142,000 metric tons. Conversely, recent rains in Minas Gerais—the country’s largest arabica-producing state—amounted to 14.9 mm last week, about 35% of the historical average, offering some support to crop expectations.

Earlier in February, coffee prices hit multi-month lows amid forecasts of a record Brazilian crop. Conab projected Brazil’s 2026 coffee output at 66.2 million bags, with arabica rising 23.2% to 44.1 million bags and robusta up 6.3% to 22.1 million bags. Global production for 2026/27 is expected to reach 180 million bags, according to Rabobank.

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Vietnam’s coffee exports further pressured robusta prices. The National Statistics Office reported a 14% year-on-year rise to 366,000 MT for January–February 2026, while 2025 exports jumped 17.5% to 1.58 million MT. Production in 2025/26 is forecast to reach 1.76 million MT, a four-year high.

Despite these factors, the International Coffee Organization (ICO) noted a slight 0.3% year-on-year decline in global coffee exports for the current marketing year. The USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service projects 2025/26 global production at 178.848 million bags, with arabica down 4.7% to 95.515 million bags and robusta up 10.9% to 83.333 million bags. Brazil’s production is expected to fall 3.1% to 63 million bags, while Vietnam rises 6.2% to 30.8 million bags. Ending stocks are forecast to decline 5.4% to 20.148 million bags.

Analysts say the combination of Brazilian rainfall, rising ICE inventories, and record production in Vietnam is likely to maintain downward pressure on coffee prices in the near term.

Kaffa Oslo Wins Nordics Best Roaster 2026

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Dubai – Qahwa World

Kaffa Oslo has been crowned the Nordics Best Roaster 2026, securing the top position in one of the most respected roasting competitions in the Nordic coffee industry. The announcement was made during the Nordic Coffee Fest, where leading roasteries from across the region competed in a peer-assessed event focused on sourcing and roasting excellence.

The competition evaluates roasters through two main categories: Mandatory Coffee, where all competitors roast the same green coffee provided by the organizers, and Sourced Coffee, in which each roastery presents a coffee it has sourced and roasted according to specific competition parameters. The roastery with the highest combined score across both categories is declared the champion.

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  • Winning coffee from Peru

Kaffa Oslo’s sourced coffee entry came from Peru’s Cajamarca region, produced by Familia Alarcon. The coffee was a Geisha variety, processed using a fully washed method and sourced through Collaborative Coffee Source AS. The reported green coffee price for the lot was 20 US dollars per kilogram.

  • Strong Nordic competition

The 2026 finals brought together some of the most recognized roasters in the Nordic region. Finalists included:

  1. Good Life Coffee Roasters
  2. Gringo Nordic Coffee Roasters
  3. Coffee Collective
  4. Solberg & Hansen
  5. Sensei
  6. Original Coffee
  7. Norange
  8. Muttley & Jack’s
  9. Te & Kaffi

The competition also presented awards for second place, third place, and the Public Choice Award, reflecting the high level of participation and public interest in the event.

  • Mandatory coffee from Colombia

For the Mandatory Coffee category, competitors roasted the same green coffee supplied through a collaboration with Caravela Coffee.

The coffee originated from Colombia, produced by the Las Orquídeas producer group, including farmers Gilma Cupaque and Nubia Yaneth Paz. It featured Colombia F6 and F8 varieties and was processed using the washed method.

The harvest took place between April and June 2025, and the beans were dried using sun and air drying on parabolic patios and raised beds.

  • Scientific study unveiled during the competition

Alongside the announcement of the final results, organizers revealed a research project conducted by CoffeeMind in collaboration with Nordic Coffee Fest.

The study, titled “Linking Sensory Descriptive Analysis and Judge Preferences in the Nordics Best Roaster Competition: A Consumer Science Approach,” analyzed how sensory characteristics influence judge preferences in competition coffees.

Researchers compared sensory descriptive analysis of selected coffees with judges’ scoring data from the Sourced Coffee category. Using statistical methods commonly applied in consumer science, the study examined how specific flavor attributes relate to preference among expert judges.

  • Understanding the drivers of preference

The analysis evaluated attributes such as acidity, sweetness, fruit notes, bitterness, and fermentation characteristics, linking them with the competition’s judging scores.

According to the researchers, combining sensory science with competition results provides a clearer understanding of why certain coffees perform better during professional evaluations.

Organizers say the initiative represents a new approach to studying coffee quality within roasting competitions, offering insights that may help roasters refine sourcing strategies and roasting profiles in future events.

FAO Welcomes UN Resolution Establishing International Coffee Day on October 1

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Dubai – Qahwa World

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has welcomed a new resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming October 1 as International Coffee Day, marking a significant step toward recognizing coffee’s global economic, social, and cultural importance.

The resolution, approved on 10 March 2026 in New York, highlights the historical and cultural role of coffee and its lasting influence on societies worldwide. It acknowledges that coffee has evolved from its origins into a globally traded agricultural commodity that sustains communities while also serving as a symbol of social interaction, cultural identity, and everyday tradition across generations.

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  • Coffee and global development

The United Nations resolution underscores the contribution of the coffee sector to several key global development priorities. Among them are ending hunger, reducing extreme poverty, empowering women, and promoting decent work and economic growth, all of which are central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

According to Qu Dongyu, coffee represents far more than a popular beverage.

“Coffee is more than a drink; it is a globally traded commodity—from beans to coffee service—that sustains the livelihoods of millions of farming households and connects rural communities to markets around the world,” he said. “Recognizing the value of the coffee sector will raise awareness of its socio-economic importance and strengthen its contribution to eradicating poverty.”

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  • A sector supporting millions

Coffee remains one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. Global per-capita consumption has grown by about 1.2 percent annually over the past decade, reflecting steady demand across international markets.

The sector supports the livelihoods of around 25 million coffee farmers, while employment extends across the entire value chain—from cultivation and processing to trading, roasting, and retail. Altogether, the global coffee industry generates more than 200 billion dollars in annual revenue.

Coffee also ranks among the world’s most traded agricultural commodities. In 2024, global production surpassed 11 million tonnes, with approximately 8 million tonnes traded internationally. That same year, the estimated value of global coffee production reached nearly 25 billion dollars, while international trade in coffee beans totaled about 34 billion dollars.

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  • Vital exports for developing economies

For many low-income countries, coffee exports remain a critical source of foreign currency earnings.

In 2024, coffee accounted for 27.9 percent of total merchandise exports in Ethiopia, 20.1 percent in Uganda, and 19.5 percent in Burundi. In both Ethiopia and Uganda, revenues from coffee exports exceeded national food import bills, while in Burundi they represented nearly one-fifth of the country’s food import costs.

During the same year, Brazil and Viet Nam were the world’s leading coffee exporters, while the European Union and the United States remained the largest import markets.

  • FAO’s role in strengthening the coffee sector

FAO works with coffee-producing countries through a range of initiatives designed to strengthen sustainability, productivity, and farmer livelihoods.

One of the organization’s priorities is helping producers adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. Through programs such as Farmer Field Schools, FAO supports pest management strategies and the conservation of traditional coffee systems, including projects in Panama. Additional initiatives promote agroforestry systems and climate-resilient coffee varieties in East Africa, while cooperative development programs are helping strengthen rural economies in countries such as Cuba.

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The organization is also assisting producers in responding to evolving market requirements. As international buyers increasingly demand traceability and compliance with sustainability standards, FAO is working with governments and producers in countries including Honduras, Guatemala, and Uganda to establish stronger traceability systems and align national policies with global frameworks. These efforts aim to mobilize investment benefiting more than 200,000 smallholder farmers.

Through its Investment Centre and initiatives such as the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO is also supporting financing mechanisms that improve efficiency and increase farmer incomes. Projects in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Honduras, implemented with partners including the World Bank, are helping strengthen the long-term resilience of coffee farming systems. In El Salvador, FAO has supported the development of a comprehensive national coffee strategy.

  • A global platform for the coffee community

With the establishment of International Coffee Day under the UN system, FAO has been invited to coordinate the annual observance in collaboration with relevant organizations, particularly the International Coffee Organization.

The new international day is expected to serve as a global platform for dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge-sharing across the coffee value chain. By highlighting both the opportunities and the challenges facing producers, the initiative aims to strengthen international commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient coffee sector that contributes to rural development and global food security.