Coronavirus has become an unexpected problem for the entire global community. Ordinary people were not ready for self-isolation, losing their jobs and usual way of life. Plus, COVID-19 has become a nightmare for companies around the world. This is especially true in the modern coffee industry. Neither manufacturers nor regional suppliers were prepared because many retail chains, cafes, and restaurants were quarantined. But this is only one aspect. Here’s how the Coronavirus impacted the coffee industry.
The Coffee Supply Chain
The largest distributors suffered the most. Due to the closure of most coffee shops, restaurants, and fast food outlets, the usual supply routes had to be revised. Now people tend to shop online. As a result, only coffee machine manufacturers and the largest online platforms did not experience income problems due to the pandemic. Now distributors had to consider the need to rent large warehouses to store coffee beans. And it’s only the beginning.
With most coffee shops and cafes across Europe and the United States still closed, chains like Starbucks have come up with a new way to sell coffee. Now, these brands buy lots of ground beans and pack them themselves for online retail. For example, you can visit the Starbucks official website to find an authorized distributor in your country or region.
Now small companies and coffee roasters are forced to reduce production volumes significantly. This is partly because craft ground beans cannot be stored for long without proper packaging. As a result, only the online segment is experiencing significant growth. Partly, this has already affected the retail price of coffee. But Coronavirus is not all the problems that the coffee industry has had to face. Because the ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal for a week, this has brought down the timing of deliveries. Now the prices of coffee and other goods may rise.
Since some African countries are now cooperating with exporters from Asia, America and Europe may experience a shortage of coffee. Another problem is that Brazilian companies are negligent in their quarantine compliance. This contributes to the emergence of a local increase in the number of infected workers. As a result, American coffee fans felt the shortage of Brazilian beans in the first place.
The Effect at Origin
Another important problem is the working conditions in those countries in which coffee beans are grown and harvested. There are several reasons for this. First, many African countries simply do not have the proper infrastructure to store beans until they are sent to distributors. This means that now they can rot. Second, the epidemic contributed to the temporary closure of many companies in quarantine. The production of coffee beans decreased by one-third. This is a big problem, given the fact that people began to consume more hot drinks during self-isolation.
The only plus is that you can still buy coffee makers for a good price. It is enough to know the main features and functions that are important to you. There are quite a few coffee makers under 100 worth your attention. Unfortunately, coffee suppliers and manufacturers have many more global problems. Many key ports are closed due to quarantine. This is the main reason for the future shortage of coffee and the general rise in prices.
Hours of Work
Another major innovation concerns opening hours. Now coffee plantation workers are working in shifts. The main prerequisite for this is the need to maintain social distance. As a result, people are forced to work in less comfortable conditions and manage to make their daily allowance 3-4 hours faster. Such labor standards are not conducive to efficient beans gathering.
What Can You Do As a Consumer?
The average coffee fans should not stand aside, while thousands of companies are losing billions of dollars due to the Coronavirus. Read pour over coffee vs drip reviews and buy new devices. Support local sellers and order beans from online stores in your city.
The industry will stagnate for at least several more years. Unfortunately, this will be enough for many people to lose their jobs and the meaning of life. The average consumer should not take risks and visit coffee shops or restaurants. But you can walk up to your favorite cafe and ask, “Can I get a cup of coffee to go?” Most likely, you can easily enjoy your favorite drink and not contribute to the spread of the Coronavirus.
At the moment, many online stores, distributors, and local companies are trying not to raise prices too much. This is a commendable trend, and you should show your solidarity. Then the coffee industry can get through tough times, and many people worldwide will be able to enjoy a hot drink without problems. Only widespread assistance to local brands and subsidies to producers can help the world quickly eliminate the coffee crisis.