This Week in Coffee; Tuesday 26th of September '23
The Big Three
GE (the very same) launch the "Grind and Brew Coffee Maker"
Link
General Electric have launched a new, extremely bougie, pourover and grind machine under their "Cafe" brand. For real, I am not making these names up. The company is called "General Electric" and they make general electrics. Their coffee brand is called "Cafe" and their new machine which both grinds and brews is called the errr "Grind and Brew".
At $280 dollars with a built-in grinder and a decent thermal mug, I think this is a pretty good deal for the right person. You would struggle to find a semi-decent burr grinder at this price so I can understand how anyone might think this is worth it.
However, for anyone trying to build a coffee setup for their home over time - this system would be a poor decision. If and when you want to upgrade part of your system you can't and will have to replace both your grinder and pour over system all in one.
One final thing - ignore the water filter. That filter is just 'activated carbon' and will make zero difference to water hardness. If you don't use bottled water you will end up with a great deal of calc and you'll need to replace the machine very soon... It's almost as if...
Brazilian National Supply Company (CONAB) estimates a 7% growth in BR production
Brazil's 2023 coffee harvest is making headlines with an estimated production of 54.36 million bags, marking a 6.8% increase over the previous year. Despite the negative biennial cycle, this harvest ranks as the third-largest in Brazilian history, trailing only 2018 and 2020. This data comes from the National Supply Company (Conab)'s third crop survey.
Arabica coffee takes the spotlight this year, projected to yield 38.16 million bags, thanks to a 2.4% expansion in production area and a significant 13.9% boost in productivity, aided by favorable weather conditions. Particularly impressive is Minas Gerais, the leading coffee-producing state, boasting a remarkable 29.5% production increase.
In contrast, conilon (related to Robusta) crops are expected to decline by 11% compared to 2022 due to adverse weather, particularly affecting Espírito Santo, the main conilon-producing state.
Brazil's coffee-growing area in 2023 stands at 2.24 million hectares, with 1.88 million hectares in production (a 1.9% increase) and 362.5 thousand hectares in formation (a 9.3% reduction).
While Brazil saw a 10.8% drop in coffee exports from January to August in 2023, the situation improved in August, indicating a potential export recovery in the coming months, driven by increased domestic supply.
World Coffee Innovation Awards: 2023 shortlist announced
Look, I know these awards are often marketing efforts by large companies but they can shine a light on some genuine innovations in the market.
In the category of Traditional Machine Innovation, several noteworthy contenders vie for recognition. Superkop stands out with its growing range of fully manual and non-electric machines. Notably, it boasts a wall-mountable design that combines aesthetics with functionality. Squeaky is nominated for Alsa - a portafilter-mounted ice-cold steel ball.
The Automatic Machine Innovation category mentions the "Perfect Moose Jack," which is another automatic milk frother that can be hugely useful in high-flow commercial environments.
There are other products in the awards and I'll bring you the winners when they come out.
Everything else
Coffee Overtakes Tea for First Time in U.K. Consumer Survey via STiR
Tickets available for Digital Coffee Futures Webinar: Coffee Prices & Technology Summit
Allpress Espresso opens café and training hub in Manchester, UK