"You think you've made the deal of a lifetime, and it turns out it could have been even better. And at a certain age, those strong emotions can be dangerous, as Mauri Oliveira, a 66-year-old Brazilian coffee producer, can attest to. Owner of the Campestre estate, he speaks with delight about the ritual he shares with other landowners every full moon night. They have dinner at one of the estates before embarking on a horseback ride by the light of the moon along the trails."
"The cause? Three years of poor harvests depleted stocks, and the global supply could barely meet demand in 2024. To the ravages caused by the weatherincreasingly frequent heat waves, droughts, and frostsare added Trump's trade war and the whims of investment funds, which have set their sights on this bean whose demand has fluctuated throughout history, but has never stopped growing."
"The swings are so dramatic that one of his riding companions had to be hospitalized because of the shock to his heart. It turns out he sold his entire harvest one day for a hefty profit, only to discover 24 hours later that if he had waited, he could have multiplied his earnings. Some characteristics remain unchanged in the world of coffee. Those who enjoy it wouldn't trade it for anything."
Coffee prices reached unprecedented highs in 2024 after three consecutive years of poor harvests depleted global stocks and supply barely met demand. Climatic extremes such as heat waves, droughts and frosts intensified production volatility in major growing regions. Trade tensions and investment funds entering the commodity market amplified price swings and market speculation. Producers experienced sudden fortunes and severe emotional and financial stress from rapid price movements. Consumer demand remained resilient, prompting shifts toward lower consumption or lower-quality purchases rather than abandonment of coffee altogether.
Read at english.elpais.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]