15-05-2023, 07:46 AM
UPDATED MAY 14, 2023, 6:44 PM SGT
NEW YORK – The global cost-of-living crunch has pushed coffee drinkers to get their fix from cheaper brews. But a shortage of robusta beans is making it increasingly difficult to find a budget-friendly cup.
While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive as the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.
Key growers, however, are finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in demand, with wholesale prices last week hitting the highest level in nearly 12 years.
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The odds of global robusta shortages easing any time soon look bleak. Vietnam – the world’s largest producer – probably collected its smallest harvest in four years, after farmers focused on planting more profitable crops like avocados and durians to cope with booming fertiliser costs in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Levin's note: The world's biggest producer of fertiliser, Russia, is under US sanctions).
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/unite...-of-coffee
NEW YORK – The global cost-of-living crunch has pushed coffee drinkers to get their fix from cheaper brews. But a shortage of robusta beans is making it increasingly difficult to find a budget-friendly cup.
While many coffee lovers prefer the high-quality arabica beans sold in cafes, robusta is normally less expensive as the tree is hardier and requires less care, making it easier to produce in large quantities. The variety is often used in instant coffee, espressos and ground blends sold at supermarkets, which have experienced a comeback as cash-strapped consumers seek alternatives.
Key growers, however, are finding it difficult to keep up with the surge in demand, with wholesale prices last week hitting the highest level in nearly 12 years.
......
The odds of global robusta shortages easing any time soon look bleak. Vietnam – the world’s largest producer – probably collected its smallest harvest in four years, after farmers focused on planting more profitable crops like avocados and durians to cope with booming fertiliser costs in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Levin's note: The world's biggest producer of fertiliser, Russia, is under US sanctions).
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/unite...-of-coffee
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