A drought and forest fires lasting for months are sweeping across South America, and Colombia has not been spared. Forests in many places have been burned, water sources are running dangerously low, the water level of the Amazon River has plummeted, and Cauca Department has suffered its worst fires in nearly three decades, with large numbers of coffee crops damaged. Water rationing policies have left coffee farmers in a dilemma: insufficient irrigation affects yields, while exceeding water limits brings fines. The latest data show that Colombia's coffee production had fallen to 1.05 million bags in August, with inventories down 7.2% month on month. As the world's third-largest coffee-producing country, declining output and inventories are pushing up international coffee prices. [more…]

Colombia's peace process has encountered new setbacks. While the government and the "Caraca" faction extended their ceasefire agreement, another faction—the Western Bloc of the "Central General Staff"—continued to exchange fire with government forces in Cauca Department. President Petro authorized an all-out offensive, and the military deployed more than 1,400 soldiers along with heavy equipment to launch a raid. The conflict sparked wildfires in the mountains, and combined with persistent drought and high temperatures, major coffee-producing regions such as Huila Department and Cauca Department were severely affected, with large tracts of coffee crops destroyed. Coffee output in August fell by nearly 100,000 bags month-on-month. The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) said that after three consecutive years of declining production caused by La Niña, output is now struggling to recover, up 15% compared with last year. Regional peace and industry recovery remain core issues that the government urgently needs to address. [more…]

A large-scale forest fire recently broke out in the mountainous area of Bolívar Municipality in Cauca Department, southwestern Colombia, and the fire remains out of control. According to the local mayor, this is the most serious fire the municipality has seen in more than 30 years, with about 2,500 hectares of land destroyed and large amounts of sugarcane and coffee crops damaged, and the fire has already spread to Valle del Cauca Department. Because the ignition area is close to a nature reserve, nearby important water sources may be affected, and due to the complex mountainous terrain, firefighters are finding it difficult to gain access, making firefighting efforts very difficult; aerial support has now been requested. Notably, the Colombian government's ceasefire agreements with several anti-government armed groups have recently been terminated one after another, intensifying armed conflict, and many people suspect this forest fire is related to the conflict. Cauca Department, Valle del Cauca Department, and Norte de Santander Department are all important coffee-producing regions in Colombia. Although the conflict has not yet directly threatened coffee estates and smallholder production, the winter harvest season is approaching in September, and the impact of the mountain fire on output cannot be ignored, and may further drive up already continuously rising coffee purchasing prices. [more…]

Colombia has been hit by truck driver protests blocking roads since September 2, triggered by the government's decision to gradually phase out fuel subsidies and raise the price of diesel by 1,904 pesos per gallon. The protests have continued to escalate, with 136 road blockades reported nationwide, nearly 1.6 million people affected in their travels, and schools suspended in many places. Goods are piling up at ports and airports, and agricultural products such as fruit and coffee beans are rotting faster due to the high temperatures of the dry season. Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy has said diesel prices may continue to rise in the future, and although the government is willing to hold talks, its stance remains tough. Factors such as rising logistics costs, a shortage of truck drivers, and wildfires in Cauca Department that have destroyed coffee fields are compounding, driving Colombian coffee prices steadily higher and putting the supply chain at risk of further deterioration. [more…]

In recent years, Colombian coffee has performed increasingly well in the Chinese market. According to the country's media, China is expected to become Colombia's sixth-largest coffee export destination by the end of the year, and may even rise to second place in the future. In 2019, China ranked only 18th, but by 2023 it had jumped to sixth, with exports reaching 540,000 bags. At the same time, Colombia's coffee industry is gradually recovering from consecutive production declines, with output in the 2023/24 season expected to grow by 15%, though challenges such as drought, wildfires, and armed conflict remain. This article will review the latest export data, market prospects, and industry conditions, and include relevant recommendations from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, the state of São Paulo in Brazil has been hit by its worst wildfires in decades, with at least 46 cities entering a 180-day state of emergency. The number of fires has reached a record high, thick smoke has shrouded multiple towns, roads have been closed, and flights have been canceled. Although Brazil's coffee harvest is nearly complete, the new crop season's coffee is in its growth period, and the area around Ribeirão Preto, the city most severely affected by the fires, as well as the well-known producing region of Mogiana, may both be impacted. Declining soil fertility, disrupted transportation, and the possible occurrence of "black rain" weather will all pose serious threats to Brazil's coffee output in the new season. This article will review the latest developments of the fires and their potential impact on the coffee industry. [more…]

Since 2024, multiple Latin American countries have experienced historic high temperatures and droughts. Honduras is enduring its hottest and driest year since 1992, with maximum temperatures reaching 38-40°C. A total of 1,903 forest fires have broken out nationwide, destroying over 150,000 hectares of forest. Although the main coffee-producing regions have not yet been directly hit by the wildfires, rainfall has decreased by nearly 40% compared to the same period last year, hampering the growth of coffee plants during their flowering period. More critically, El Niño has not yet subsided, while La Niña is highly likely to arrive, and the threat of hurricane season is imminent. The Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE) has already issued a warning about next season's output. Front Street Coffee will continue to monitor developments in the producing regions and bring first-hand information to enthusiasts. [more…]

Since entering the dry season in November 2023, the El Niño phenomenon has continued to intensify drought conditions in Guatemala, triggering large-scale forest fires and severe shortages of hydroelectric power. Wildfires in the Agua Volcano region in southern Guatemala have affected the two major coffee-producing areas of Antigua and Acatenango, damaging more than 40 hectares of vegetation; meanwhile, the National Interconnected Power System has been in a state of emergency since March 18, with hydroelectric generation down 17% compared with the historical average, driving up operating costs for coffee processing plants. The drought in the Panama Canal has further lengthened fuel transportation cycles, putting additional pressure on the coffee industry chain. Guatemala is seeking relief by attracting investment and holding meetings on an economic action plan. This article will review the disaster data, the causes of the power crisis, and their cascading effects on coffee cultivation and processing. [more…]

A fire in the Serra do Cipó National Park in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais state in southern Brazil has been burning for four days, with the burned area reaching 478 hectares. The state is a core coffee-producing region in Brazil, accounting for 30% of the country's output, and many coffee estates are located nearby. Although, as of August 13, the harvest of the new coffee season is nearly complete, so the current fire has limited impact on this season's output, damage to the soil and ecological environment, low humidity, and the possible arrival of a La Niña climate make the outlook for coffee production in the 2024/25 season worrying. [more…]

Brazil is experiencing its worst drought in seventy years, with the major coffee-growing states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais hit especially hard. Wildfires have consumed large numbers of coffee plantations, with some estates losing nearly half their harvest, and the agriculture department estimates losses exceeding 2 billion reais. At the same time, Brazil's coffee exports hit a record high in August, driven mainly by stockpiling demand ahead of the EU's imminent implementation of the EUDR. Rabobank expects coffee prices to remain high through the end of the year, while the production outlook for the next crop season is full of uncertainty. This article will review the drought's comprehensive impact on Brazil's coffee industry and follow Front Street Coffee's ongoing tracking of developments in the producing regions. [more…]

Colombia has recently been hit by sustained high temperatures and drought, with more than 500 forest fires breaking out nationwide. President Pedro has declared a state of natural disaster. The department of Cundinamarca has been particularly hard hit, activating a public disaster emergency mechanism. Meanwhile, the fires have affected several coffee-producing regions in the central and southern parts of the country, and since March to June is the main coffee harvest season in these areas, there is widespread concern in the industry that coffee production will suffer a major blow. [more…]

The exact origin of coffee still has no definitive conclusion. The most widely circulated account points to the highlands of Kaffa Province in southwestern Ethiopia—where a shepherd noticed that his flock became unusually lively after eating a certain plant. Others believe it was only after a wildfire burned down a coffee forest that the roasted aroma drew people's attention. From initially chewing the fruit for stimulation and mixing ground coffee into flour to make "warrior bread," to boiling it in water as a beverage around 1000 AD, coffee has traveled a long road. In the 13th century, it spread with Ethiopian troops into Yemen and entered the Arab world, then passed through Turkey into Europe, and eventually was cultivated on a large scale in South America. After prices fell, it became a daily drink for Europeans. This article sorts out the key milestones in coffee's journey from its place of origin to global dissemination, helping coffee lovers understand the historical context behind this cup. [more…]

The latest data from the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia shows that the country's coffee industry is experiencing a significant recovery, with production increasing by 21% year-on-year over the past 12 months, reaching 12.41 million bags. This growth is attributed to improved weather, the renewal of disease-resistant varieties, and rising global coffee prices. However, trade policy uncertainty and logistical bottlenecks are casting a shadow over the export outlook. Tariff measures that may be implemented after the new U.S. president takes office, as well as issues such as port congestion and container shortages, could put pressure on Colombian coffee exports. Despite the rebound in production, it is still not enough to fill the gap left by Brazil's reduced output, and coffee prices are expected to remain high. Follow origin developments to learn the latest trends in the coffee market. [more…]

The state of São Paulo, Brazil, recently endured a violent storm accompanied by historically powerful winds, leaving at least 7 people dead, 2.1 million users without power, and severely disrupting transportation, water supply, and business operations. As an important coffee-producing region in Brazil, São Paulo state has this year been hit in succession by drought, wildfires, and torrential rain, casting a shadow over the prospects for coffee growth in the new crop season. With power slow to be restored, inventory is piling up at processing plants and the risk of port delays is intensifying. Combined with expectations of reduced output in Vietnam and other producing origins, international coffee futures prices continue to run at high levels. This article will review the impact of the disaster, the abnormal climate in the producing region, and the chain reactions for the coffee industry. [more…]

The connection between Japanese coffee giant UCC and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee can be traced back to a fixation held by Tadao Ueshima in the early 1980s—to give Japanese people a stable supply of authentic Blue Mountain. To this end, UCC established a directly operated farm in the Blue Mountain region, starting from Clayton House, overcoming steep-slope cultivation, wildfires, hurricanes, and many other difficulties, and ultimately shipping high-quality Blue Mountain coffee back to Japan in batches. Which estate does UCC Blue Mountain coffee actually come from? How does it taste? This article sorts through this cross-border history of coffee cultivation and introduces Front Street Coffee's recommendations and understanding of related beans, helping you understand the story and flavor behind UCC Blue Mountain. [more…]

The latest report from Brazilian consultancy Safras shows that as of December 11, 79% of Brazil's 2024/25 coffee crop had been sold, but pre-sales for the 2025/26 crop stood at only 12%, far below the same period in previous years. Hit by drought, forest fires and irregular rainfall, growers are deeply worried about the next season and are holding back on selling. Combined with a plunge of more than 20% in the Brazilian real, domestic Brazilian coffee spot prices have broken the highest record in 26 years. Several institutions warn that international coffee prices will remain high until production becomes clear. To learn more origin news, scan the QR code to follow Coffee Review. [more…]

The price of US C-type coffee futures once again set a new record, reaching a high of 284.93 cents per pound and finally closing at 279.35 cents per pound. Behind this round of gains is a mix of multiple factors: drought and fires in major South American producing regions, the postponement of the EUDR regulation, the limited effect of Brazil's rainy season, the impact of the Atlantic hurricane season, the strengthening of the US dollar driven by the US election, and the Red Sea crisis together with rising container freight rates. Although the EU has already approved a one-year delay in the implementation of the EUDR, the market's concerns about tight global coffee supply have still not faded, and futures prices are expected to remain high in the short term. [more…]

Since the start of spring in September, Brazil's drought and fire situation has not eased but has instead continued to worsen. Multiple cities in Minas Gerais have gone without rain for a long time, and the Bom Despacho waterfall has even dried up; after briefly bringing fires under control, São Paulo state has seen 12 cities hit by fires again, with initial agricultural losses estimated at 2 billion reais. At the same time, large areas of smoke have caused air quality to plummet, and Brazil's meteorological agency has warned that five states will experience "black rain." The number of fires in Rio de Janeiro state has surged by more than 95% year-on-year, and nearly 4,000 cities nationwide face the threat of drought. The Brazilian government has sent a letter to the European Union requesting a postponement of the deforestation-free regulation (EUDR) set to take effect at the end of the year, but international coffee prices are still climbing, and Brazil's coffee industry is deeply worried about production and export prospects for the new crop season. [more…]

After Hurricane "John" made landfall in southern Mexico, it caused at least 16 deaths, damaged more than 700 homes, and left about 100,000 users without power, with Guerrero and Oaxaca states hit especially hard. More critically, 95% of Mexico's coffee production is concentrated in the south, and the current period is when coffee is fruiting; torrential rain knocked fruit off the trees, flooded coffee plants, and the risk of landslides compounded the damage, putting the expected increase in output for the 2024/25 season at risk of being revised downward. At the same time, global coffee prices are already at high levels due to reduced production in places such as Brazil and Vietnam, and with Mexico now hit by another climate shock, prices are unlikely to fall in the short term. [more…]

Geisha, a name that captivates countless coffee lovers, from the primitive forests of Ethiopia to the high-altitude estates of Panama, it has rewritten people's understanding of coffee with its signature floral aroma and fruity notes. This article takes you through the origin and rise to fame of the Geisha variety, analyzes why it is called "sky-high-priced coffee," delves into what the true "Geisha flavor" is, and explores how variety, terroir, processing methods, and roasting together shape that stunning cup with its citrus acidity and honeyed sweetness. At the same time, we will also learn how Front Street Coffee, through its Butterfly Blend, allows more people to experience the unique charm of Panama Geisha at an affordable price. [more…]