ROVERETO. A -20% of production but orders based on previous year’s estimates. It’s a complex moment for the coffee market which has to deal with increased costs due to the Suez Canal crisis and longer journeys to deliver goods.
“Today a load employs us 16 nautical miles more, that is, an extension of between 10 and 21 days of navigation with an impact on costs“. To say it Stefano Andreis, CEO of Torrefazione Bontadi, a historic company that has been producing artisanal coffee since 1790 and which has gone through many changes in society. “The cost of coffee has skyrocketed and this could lead to an increase in the price.”
Coffee is among the most consumed drinks in the world but it is also one very delicate plant, grown in certain environmental conditions in Latin America, Asia and Africa. A crop particularly at risk in times of climate crisis.
There estimate is that in 2050 the coffee growing areas could be half of what they are today with consequences on productionthe availability hey prices. From the epidemic Covid to inflation, the sector still faces a complex period. It was a black year in production, with damage being seen in the two main exporting countries. In Brazil crops were hit by torrential rain, drought in Vietnam.
“The situation is certainly very complex,” adds Andreis. “Brokers sold 25% more goods but production dropped by about 20%.%, this also triggers strong competition because contracts and orders must be respected but there is a shortage of raw material. The roasters work to contain costs but it is not easy because the margins are tight and therefore there could be an increase in the price of the cup.”
Meanwhile, the continued worsening of the climate crisis has pushed the Finnish National Research Center to experience the “sustainable coffee“, Meaning what grown in the laboratory, but characterized by a taste and smell comparable to those of traditional coffee. A world leader like Illy he believes little in this path (Article here). “There is room for improvement to increase cultivation in Africa with the push of China’s influence.”
There are two concerns in particular for the Trentino roasting company. The first is the risk of losing quality. “There is a strong increase in the consumption of pods and capsules, furthermore, to maintain levels, many people perhaps purchase second or third choice raw materials. This dynamic affects production with some types of crops put at risk because they are no longer profitable. This affects the biodiversity of production“.
Another issue is the competitiveness of the sector in Italy. “The country gradually loses tradition and innovation in this sector while Germany And Swiss appear as increasingly credible competitors with the risk of leaving important market segments to others”.
Innovation and sustainability are the keys to remaining a point of reference in the sector and maintaining prestige on the market. This is also why Bontadi focuses on training With the’academya theoretical-practical school to discover the secrets of the trade.
“A 360-degree training that covers all the notions necessary to make the most of the raw material because professionalism is fundamental. Coffee has unique organoleptic characteristics that require careful preparation of the cup. The market is increasingly competitive and constantly evolving, which is why it is strategic to invest in this direction”, concludes Andreis.
