Articles by Coffee Memo with Rob Stephen

Rob talks about what he saw, heard, and said on a recent work trip around the world, discussing industry trends, challenges, and future outlooks. 

Rob talks about the current state of the coffee market, focusing on price movements, tariffs, and strategies for coffee roasters. 

Rob talks about the significant impact of weather, particularly El Niño and La Niña, on the coffee industry. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how these weather patterns affect coffee production and market dynamics.

Rob talks about the coffee pipeline, producer psychology, and the implications of market dynamics on pricing. The conversation includes the upcoming large crop from Brazil, the role of producers in withholding coffee, and the physical pressures they face as storage becomes a concern, and market uncertainty and the potential for price fluctuations as the supply chain evolves.

Rob is joined by Mark Inman to talk about the future of the coffee industry, exploring market trends, challenges, and the impact of mechanization and climate change on coffee production. They emphasize the importance of quality and pricing in specialty coffee, the need for strong relationships between producers and buyers, and the resilience required to navigate the ever-changing market landscape.

Rob discusses the critical role of fertilizer in coffee production, the challenges posed by global supply chain issues, and the potential long-term impacts on coffee quality and supply.

Rob talks about some of the complex factors currently influencing the global coffee market, including war, logistical challenges, and the Brazilian Real, providing insights into how these elements create market volatility.

 Rob shares his daily dashboard for market analysis, including data sources, tools, and routines that inform his decision-making in the coffee industry.

Rob talks about the current state of the coffee market, highlighting significant price fluctuations and the impact of supply chain dynamics.

Rob and Mike reflect on the tumultuous year of 2025 in the coffee industry, discussing the challenges posed by tariffs, inverted markets, working capital, and of course prices.