Latteworld

Coffee prices are going up in the United States but New Zealanders may not have to pay more for their caffeine fixes. Three major US roasters have lifted their prices on major coffee brands such as Maxwell House and Folgers. All the roasters said they were responding to more than a year of price increases on the futures market. Recently, Starbucks also raised prices on their coffee products. [more]

When a woman in a white sport utility vehicle drives up to the drive-through window at the Coffee Tree, owner Brian Warren doesn’t immediately ask for her order.

His business philosophy has brought about 80 regular customers daily to his shop, mixed in with about 10 to 15 new customers a day. Not bad for working out of a 200-square-foot building with only two windows and just enough space for supplies. [more]

Technorati Tags: Coffee

Coffee farmers who suffered losses as a result of the passage of Hurricane Ivan are to begin receiving compensation cheques this week.

The coffee farmers, who had insured their crops with the collapsed Dyoll Insurance Company, have been in a lengthy battle with the liquidators over the payments. [more]

Tags: Hurricane Ivan

In the restaurant industry time is money. Which may explain why drive-thrus, offering quick service to millions of customers each day, coupled with the explosive growth of coffeehouses are watching their profits soar into the fast lane. [more]

Tags: QSR, Coffee drive-thrus

It’s hardly a feud between neighbors, but a corporate coffee giant is giving a hometown business a run for its money. Lucy’s Coffee and Tea is a local establishment. The coffee shop and diner brings in customers by the dozens, but the fresh paint on the wall right next-door signals Lucy’s biggest competition in 13 years. The name on the corner says it all: Starbucks. Lucy’s always seems busy, partly because of the energy the proprietor herself spreads through the shop. [more]

Starbucks’ purchases of its own Cafe Practices certified coffee will grow strongly in the 2007 fiscal year, a senior company official said on Monday.

For Starbucks’ 2007 fiscal year, which runs from October to September, Hay projected the company would buy 225 million pounds (roughly 1.7 million 60-kg bags) of "Cafe Practices" coffee, up from 150 million pounds (1.14 million bags) in fiscal year 2006.

The premiums Starbucks paid for coffees that meet its Cafe Practices standards would remain at current levels of 5 cents to 15 cents per pound, depending on the level of compliance with the standard.

Starbucks accounts for roughly two percent of the global coffee market. World coffee production in the 2005/06 export cycle is expected to be around 108 million bags. [more]

Tags: Starbucks, Fair Trade Coffee, Cafe Prectices

According to Ethiopia’s minister of agriculture and rural development, Ethiopia has overtaken Côte d’Ivoire to become the leading African coffee supplier. [more]

First it was petrol, then bananas and orange juice. Now the cost of a coffee is set to rise.

A doubling of the price of raw coffee on international commodity markets is expected to drive up the cost within months and popular supermarket blends could cost up to 20 per cent more within the next year as local importers and roasters pass on the higher raw commodity price.

Instant coffee will feel the impact first, followed by gourmet or specialty blends and, eventually, major fresh coffee brands. [more]

Coke has invited reporters to preview the hot-drinks brand next Wednesday, confirming reports that the soft-drink maker was planning to launch a brand called Far Coast for hot drinks such as coffee, tea and lattes.

The Far Coast system will use "pods" to brew fresh coffee and tea cup by cup, initially only in Canada, John Sicher, editor and publisher of industry newsletter Beverage Digest, told Bloomberg News yesterday.

Coca-Cola is offering the hot coffee and tea system to restaurants to expand sales beyond soda fountains and keep consumers from switching to other brands such as Starbucks Corp. Restaurant soda-fountain volume, which Coca-Cola depends on for 30 per cent of U.S. sales, dropped about 2 per cent last year, according to Beverage Digest data.

The Far Coast system will use "pods" to brew fresh coffee and tea cup by cup, initially only in Canada. [more]

Tags: Coke Coffee, Coke Blak, Coca-Cola Blak

An interesting post by Hub Politics that discusses the introduction of Starbucks New England Blend, as covered by the Boston Herald. This coffee is specific for the region, and takes direct aim at Dunkin’ Donuts, which has a strong foothold in the region. Starbucks will be selling the coffee for $12.95 a pound in the New England region only. [more]

Technorati Tags: Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts