Now we find our self's in a situation where I don't care what you are baying as a roaster you are paying fair pricing for that coffee because the market price for Coffee is so high. But is that making any difference at the growers level? You would think it does some way some how. The truth is no, is not making not one bit of difference. Why?, is simple the ones who are really profiting from this high pricing of coffee is the importers who purchase all their coffee early on the season and all the coffee is in their warehouses already, that coffee has been payed at a much lower price and the grower had to negotiate at the lowest possible to have all of their coffee sold.
The importer will sell you know that same coffee for the high market price of coffee today plus their commission which usually is about $.75 cents per pound more.
As a roaster I have establish my market and have my clients who expect their coffee order every week. So I have no choice but to purchase last years coffee for a very high price, knowing perfectly well that none of that extra cash is going to the grower or benefiting the consumer with better product at all. Is the importer the bad guy here?, no they are challenge with a different set of problems that frankly I do not have any desire to handle as a roaster. The coffee production will decrease in some country's because of many different problems, from to much rain, to the inability of growers to get financing for their harvest and there fore they move on to other trades, to the giant companies having very dirty and scary tactical ways of securing their coffee through their middle man. I don't care how much they try to brain wash you with all the so call good they do for the grower such us putting a water hole in some communities, till you talk to some of this growers who have been confronted by this men you have no idea what really goes on.
Consumption of coffee is growing, and that is a great thing, but it is only a great thing if the Independent Roaster can establish a direct relationship with the grower, and the growers is able to sell directly to the roaster. Is this possible when an Independent Roaster does not purchase a full container of coffee?, or when the small growers does not produce a full container of coffee? how can they come together and start purchasing from one another?. The logistics alone to transport 10 bags of coffee or less is almost impossible you would have to pay 5 times more just to transport that coffee then what you actually payed for the coffee.
Well a group of women started to think about all of this and came up with a great idea that is taking root in the beautiful state of Chiapas, Mexico.
Quest Coffee Koben Yah International is a company that has started a project to evaluate, grade, cup and profile and build a huge database that has an international trade mark for its protection and ability to work all over the world. This database which will be available at the beginning of next year to all who are involved in purchase of coffee at any label to become members. In this database roasters like me will be able to select and start a relationship with a grower of my choice. And all the growers will have a international representation through this data base where they can also find clients for their coffee. Its like a major shopping center for coffee. Where the growers is free to look for clients internationally and same for the international client. And what is really cool is that small roasters like me can become members and be able to purchase the 10 bags I need or 3 or what ever number and through a logistics company that has been created to send this smaller lots of coffee at certain times of the year I wont have to pay those outrageous fees to bring that coffee in.
Is this an ambitious project?, yes it is. Is it going to be easy, no nothing that is worth having succeed ever is.
Can the consumer, grower, importer and roaster benefit from this project? Absolutely yes, the only ones who will suffer will be the middle man and the giant coffee companies little by little since the world of coffee will be more transparent and have freedom.
It will take time but this industry will change it is to important, and they are to many lives involved in the process not to try to make it better.
As a roaster I am excited for the future of this Industry, I am excited for the grower, and for my clients.
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