Enjoy a Cup of Coffee

All over the world climate change has been felt, in some places it is raining more and in others there isn’t a drop to be felt.  This weather condition has effected one very important crop, now brace yourselves, we could be facing a coffee shortage in 2010.

Columbia has predicted lower than expected production for the second year in a row.  Indonesia is saying they will export 12 percent less than last year and Vietnam has experienced bad weather as well.   

Without the perfect weather conditions the sensitive coffee plants will not produce the crops needed to fulfill the world’s increasing demand for coffee.  Too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry the coffee plant will not flower without ideal conditions.  Disease can also affect the crops; if the plants remain damp they can develop rust.

And even after production perfect weather conditions are required as the beans are laid out in sun to dry, if there is any sun that is. 

African crops are affected by drought.  Kenya reported 57,000 tons last September and by December reduced that number to 47,000 tons due to dry conditions.  They are hoping that by March or April the weather will have improved these numbers.

Brazil’s forecast increased from 39 million bags to 48 million bags but was updated due to heavy rains causing forecasts to fall to levels below last year’s. 

Tanzania’s Coffee Board director Adolph Kumburu estimated a 40 percent drop in production; the drought is affecting the flowering of the plants.  They exported 68,000 tons last growing season.  Massive replanting efforts are in effect aiming for 10 million trees this year.  The goal is to export 100,000 tons of coffee by the year 2015.

It would be a good idea to be flexible with your palate; you may need to switch over from your favorite blend this year with these statistics.