October Market News & Arrivals
What's Happening in the Market:
September began with trading of the December (KCZ23) position at 152. Trading continued in the range of 148-155 through September 14th, at which point the market responded to reports from the ICO that coffee exports between Oct-Jul were down 5.7% y/y. Upon this news, the market rose quickly to peak on 9/19 at a close of 161. Favorable weather reports out of Brazil eased supply concerns and were a bearish force on the market, with prices receding over the next 7 days of trading to levels of 145. During this time, the U.S. also saw turbulence within its domestic economic outlook as the federal government quickly approached budget deadlines in the House. In Guatemala, indigenous leaders took to the streets on October 2 with large protests and a blockade of roads. The demonstrations continue as blockades disrupt the flow of goods between Guatemala and bordering Mexico and El Salvador.
El Nino conditions continue to bring dry forecasts throughout central and South American coffee-growing regions. In Nicaragua, dry conditions have slowed coffee ripening and delayed the application of fertilizers by producers. Dryer conditions in Vietnam are welcomed as the country prepares to begin the harvest season. Small areas of Lam Dong have begun harvest, and the larger Robusta regions will begin full-scale harvest within the next two weeks. Positive news out of Ethiopia as harvest has begun in low-growing regions. Favorable weather conditions appear to lead to good volume and quality levels.
News & Arrivals:
FREE Online Shipping on 3+ bags!
Get FREE shipping when purchasing a minimum of 3 bags of coffee online! Use code: COFFEEDAY at checkout - ONLINE ORDERS ONLY.
*Please note coffees will need to come from the same warehouse for the discount to apply. U.S. Orders only. Excludes Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada. There is no shipping fee ever when picking up at will-call.
Mercon Specialty is excited to announce the launch of our Small Box Program in the next couple of weeks. The Small Box Program prioritizes our clients by making specialty green coffee accessible to roasters of all sizes. With this new product size, roasters can confidently invest in our offerings without the pressure of overcommitting.
All boxes are 20 lbs. and come sealed in a 2-mil gusseted Polybag to line the inside of the box. Securing your beloved green coffee until it arrives.
Plus, FREE online shipping on all boxes, all the time
Brazil LIFT Producer Competition
In August, Mercon Brazil successfully hosted the inaugural LIFT Producer Competition, backed by the unwavering support of LIFT and Mercon Specialty. This innovative initiative aimed to incentivize, nurture, and honor the cultivation of specialty coffee among Mercon's Brazil LIFT producers.
LIFT is Mercon’s sustainable production platform, providing valuable tools, training, and services to coffee farmers and communities. Through LIFT, we work directly with coffee producers to raise their quality of life by helping them improve their well-being in a social and environmentally conscious manner.
Read more about the competition, and you can judge the final round!
Mercon Specialty's Guide to the Perfect Holiday Blend
Our Sales Executive, Emily Smith, and Green Coffee Quality Manager, Neil Oney, have pooled their knowledge to create a concise guide for achieving your ideal holiday blend. Explore their insightful tips and tricks in our latest blog post as you begin to map out your winter product offerings.
There are many ways to infuse your holiday blend with festive flavors. For instance, incorporating Sumatra Aceh or Lintong into your blend evokes the warmth of hot spiced cider or hot toddies. Alternatively, Nicaragua Red Cherry Project Natural Process could be the perfect addition to accentuate the fruity flavors reminiscent of fruitcake during the holidays. If chocolate is your main craving, a blend of Brazil Ipe Amarelo and Guatemala Ave de Paraiso will fulfill your dreams of a sweet, rich, and chocolatey coffee.
Neil's Monthly Picks:
Green Coffee Quality Manager Neil Oney is sharing his recommendations, and this month, it's all about the Red Cherry Project Coffees! Mercon Nicaragua created the Red Cherry Project as a unique experiment for coffee selection in the community of La Esmeralda. Working with Mercon's sustainability program, LIFT, the project seeks to revolutionize coffee processing through technical resources LIFT agronomists provide to harvest perfectly ripe red cherries, which are then delivered to the mill. Fermentation and drying are processed at a central location for direct control and traceability, resulting in exceptional coffee quality and increased value to the producers.
Matagalpa Red Cherry Project Esmeralda Community Natural LIFTMatagalpa Red Cherry Project Esmeralda Community Washed LIFT
Flavor notes: Bright and clean, strawberry, peach, floral, milk, chocolate, citric, medium-light body
Process: Washed
Variety: Caturra, Catuai, Sarchimor
Seeds for Progress is a non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of children through quality education in coffee communities within Central America. Their work complements the generational handover of knowledge and know-how. Local teams help facilitate skill development and create opportunities for improvement. By purchasing coffee from us, a portion of your proceeds can go towards this fantastic cause.
Seeds for Progress celebrates 10 years of bringing education to Central America's most isolated coffee-growing communities. From the students to the teachers whose lives have been transformed, each one of them is our reason to rejoice.
There are still many coffee communities to be reached in the region.
Join their annual gala to expand the joy of education! REGISTER HERE!