May Green Coffee Outlook: Shipping Season is Underway

The shipping season is underway with coffee from Africa, Central America, and Indonesia on the water.

It’s high traffic season for coffee shipments, with containers hitting the water from parts of Africa, Central America, and IndonesiaUSDA is (obviously) the United States Department of Agriculture. USDA also had coffee plant breeding programs in the past and one variety they distributed to Indonesia and was... ...more. The coffees we buy from these origins make up more than half our annual volume, and the timing of when they land can stack up. A little overlap is expected in a normal year, however, the natural timing of their harvest seasons usually spreads the shipping period out a bit. But this year is anything but “normal”, and everything seems to be hitting the water at the same time.

In Central America, for example, unseasonal rains delayed the start of the harvest season by several weeks, and diminished flowering considerably. In areas where we usually see the season winding down by February, farmers were still picking coffee well into March. However, late harvests alone don’t account for the delays we’ve experienced this year. Logistics issues have also played a roloe.

In Costa RicaCosta Rican coffee is typically very clean, sweet, with lots of floral accents. hey are prized for their high notes: bright citrus or berry-like flavors in the acidity,... ...more, a shortage of 20′ shipping containers has made it difficult to reserve space on boats. In El SalvadorEl Salvador coffee had an undeservingly poor reputation for years, marred mostly by the inability to deliver coffee of high quality in an unstable political climate. Unfortunately, agriculture... ...more, renovation of the Acajutla port has led to many shipping lines bypassing El Salvador altogether, which has led to many Salvadorian suppliers trucking coffee to Guatemalan ports instead. And you can imagine the backlog they face once they get there.

A ripple effect is felt down the line. The impact on us has yet to be fully realized, but we anticipate there to be more overlap in our arrivals. This means more coffees to manage at the same time, from the physical transfer, to the push to list them on our list. That the coffee’s finally shipping is honestly a big relief, and we will get them up on our website as quickly as we can once here!

Most of our coffee contracts from these sources are now listed in the “Incoming Coffees” list below, with ETA’s where we have them. No ETA doesn’t necessarily mean the shipment is not booked! Most are, but we won’t post the realistic arrival times until the coffee has left the country of originCountry of Origin is where the coffee is grown in general terms. Region is a more specific area within the country. Arabica coffee grows in only in particular... ...more.

While the bulk of our coffees are still a couple months away, we do have some near-term arrivals to celebrate. One, is a ColombiaColombian coffee is highly marketed and widely available in the US. They have been largely successful at equating the name Colombian Coffee with "Good" Coffee. This is half-true.... ...more container that landed last week. This box is stuffed with a whopping 17 unique lots ranging from a 4 bag micro-lots, to 40+ bag regional blends. Additionally, there are a half-dozen special cultivarCultivar is a term used interchangeably with Varietal in the coffee trade to indicate plant material, although there are distinctions.: The naming of a cultivar should conform to... ...more separations, including Chiroso"Chiroso" is the name given to a unique variety of coffee rediscovered in Colombia in the early 2000's, and is still mostly limited to the country. Originally thought... ...more, Pink BourbonA variant of Bourbon that ripens to a pink color, versus a red color. As a variant, it is not really a coffee variety, but simply a mutation... ...more, Wush WushThis unique coffee variety can be traced back to the town of "Wushwush", Ethiopia, only a few kilometers from Bonga forest in Kafa. It is purported to be... ...more, and GeshaGesha is a long-bean Ethiopia selection with unique cup character. Gesha is the name of the town in Western Ethiopia where the original samples were collected. Spelling it... ...more (the latter from Edward Sandoval, who you can read more about here).

After that, we have a box of Yemeni coffees landing in about two weeks. You’ll likely recognize several of the regional blends, like Matari, Hawari, and Haraz. Once again, we turned to Yemeni farmer and exporter Fatoum Mouslot, who runs a company called Pearl of Tehama. The original export business was started by Fatoum’s father in the mid 1950’s, and it was out of his initial seed that Fatoum cultivated the current operation. We posted an interview with Fatoum a few years back, where she outlines the history of Pearl of Tehama, and also describes the Yemeni agricultural sector, and political climate at that time. It’s a compelling read, and can be accessed here.

A note on rising coffee costs and future pricing

If you’ve even glanced at the news, you’re likely aware of the new import tariffs that have impacted the prices on many of the goods we buy, including coffee. Typically, coffee has been exempted from tariffs due to our almost total reliance on imports. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with those that went into effect on April 5th.

As of this writing, coffee that shipped before April 5th will not be subject to the 10% tariff/tax. That’s good news for the Colombia and Yemeni coffees mentioned above, but arrivals after that will incur a 10% tax based on the cost of the coffee at originIn coffee talk, it refers to a coffee-producing region or country; such as, "I was just at origin." Of course "Origin" for most product we use is not... ...more (sans shipping fees). This works out to be roughly .40-.50 per pound for most of our coffees. Add in the historically high C Market prices, and we are looking at $9-$10 per pound prices heading into the second half of the year.

Some coffee retailers have raised prices retroactively to account for the “cost to cover” – i.e. what it will cost to go out and replace those goods in the current market. We are not one of them. Tom wrote about this in more detail here, but I will restate that we do not plan to roll tariff costs into coffee prices until we are actually paying them.

If we’ve learned anything from this experience, it’s that when it comes to this new tariff, nothing is certain. A 50% increase one day, turns into 10% the next. What it will be next week is anyone’s guess. We plan to do our best to adjust in real time, including when they (hopefully) disappear altogether.

Upcoming Coffees May/June

Below is a list of upcoming green coffees currently on the schedule to be added to our website in May and June

May Upcoming Coffees

BrazilBrazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of coffee in Brazil".: Brazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra... ...more FazendaFazenda is the Portuguese word for farm, hence it is the term used in Brazil. Fazenda is not a coffee-specific term. ...more IP SWPSWP means Swiss Water Process is a patented water filtration decaf method, not a chemical solvent method. The plant is in Vancouver, Canada. ...more Decaf	70
Brazil Dry ProcessDry process coffee is a method for taking the fruit from the tree to an exportable green bean. The whole intact coffee cherry is dried in the sun... ...more Doña Maria Christina	10
Brazil Dry Process Doña Marta	24
BurundiBurundi coffee bears resemblance to neighboring Rwanda, in both cup character, but also the culture surrounding coffee. Burundi is a small landlocked country at the crossroads of East... ...more Mutambu Migoti Hill	47
EthiopiaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie,  was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from... ...more Yirga Cheffe Wote Konga	45
FloresFlores is an Indonesian island, and as a coffee bears more resemblance to the coffees of Timor-Leste, New Guinea and Java than to the wet-hulled coffees of Sumatra... ...more Bajawa Om David	10
Ethiopia Gure Dako	40
GuatemalaGuatemalan coffee is considered a top quality coffee producer in Central America. Due to our proximity to Guatemala, some of the nicest coffees from this origin come to... ...more Antigua JavaThere are several types of Abyssinia variety coffee, but they are not from Ethiopia but rather Indonesia. Abyssinia 3 = AB3.  PJS Cramer, a Dutch plant researcher, introduced this variety... ...more	15
Guatemala Xinabajul Guilmer CastilloCastillo is a selection of the Colombia cultivar that has become the most commonly grown coffee in Colombia. It is preferred to the older resistant variety, Variedad Colombia... ...more	14
Guatemala Xinabajul Flory Villatoro	19
HondurasHonduran coffee was absent from the top ranks of the Specialty market, but that has changed. It has all the environmental factors on its side: soil, altitude, climate.... ...more Wilmer Dubon PacasA mutation of Bourbon cultivar that appeared in El Salvador in 1949: Pacas is a natural mutation of Bourbon cultivar that appeared in El Salvador in 1949. It... ...more	5
Honduras Honey ProcessThe honey process has nothing to do with honey other than the fact that they're both sticky! It's a term that became popularized in Costa Rica as another... ...more Sara Chinchilla	9
KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... ...more Muranga Ndiara AA	36
MexicoMexican coffee originates from South-central to Southern regions of the country. For that reason, coffees from Coatepec and Veracruz are much different from Oaxacan Plumas, which are in... ...more OrganicGrown without the use of artificial fertilizers, herbicides, etc.: Organic coffee has been grown according to organic farming techniques, typically without the use of artificial fertilizers. Some farms... ...more Granjeros de Chiapas	75
PeruPeruvian coffees have Central American brightness but in a South American coffee flavor package overall. The good organic lots do have more of a "rustic" coffee character.: Organic... ...more Huabal San Pablo	23
RwandaA Bourbon cultivar variant from Rwanda and Burundi. Bourbon coffees are named for the island in the India Ocean where French colonists grew it. Some history from the... ...more HoneyIn coffee, honey-like sweetness is often found, but we use terms such as refined honey (highly filtered and processed) as opposed to raw honey rustic honey sweetness. This... ...more Process Kibirizi	40
Rwanda Nyamasheke Karambi	30
SumatraIndonesians are available as a unique wet-hulled or dry-hulled (washed) coffees. Giling Basah is the name for the wet-hulling process in Bahasa language, and will have more body... ...more Organic AcehThe northernmost district in SumatraL Aceh District is north of North Sumatra and produces some very classic Sumatra coffees. The center of coffee in Aceh is Lake Tawar... ...more Tengah	45

June Upcoming Coffees (so far)

Africa Boda Boda SWP Blend	68
Brazil Dry Process Patrocinio Fazenda Paraiso	64
Honduras Dry Process Edwin Ever	7
Honduras Andres Fernandez ParainemaParainema is a hybrid with some disease resistance developed in Honduras by IHCAFE (Instituto Hondureño del Café). It is related to Sarchimor, another disease-resisitant type. Both have arabica... ...more	7
Java Sunda Wet Hulled Siki Alit	29
Rwanda Dry Process Kivu Kageyo	8
Rwanda Milles Collines PeaberryA peaberry is a green coffee "bean" that has a rounded form: Coffee is the dried seed from the fruit of a flowering tree - each fruit having... ...more Lot 2	29
Sumatra Wet Hulled Lintong Nihuta	45

Incoming coffees currently on the water: February onward

Please keep in mind that names may change when we list the coffee on our website. Location status of “TBD” are also a bit of a wild card, as logistical disruptions are out of our control! You also may notice some of the coffees from last month’s list have disappeared. These have likely arrived in the US, and await being added to our launch schedule. Thanks for your patience!

African Incoming Coffees

Coffee	Bags	ETA
Ethiopia Hambela Benti Nenka	60	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Benti Nenka	100	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Hambela Buliye	100	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Suke Quto	100	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Buku	110	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Uraga	100	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Tuku	60	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Dogo Sodu	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Gerba Doku	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Buno Dambi Uddo	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Hambela Goro	80	TBD
Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe Banko Gotiti	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Goro Badesa	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Yirga Cheffe Halo Beriti	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Uraga Yabitu Koba	80	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Aba Bulgu	80	TBD
Ethiopia Guji Goro Bedessa	120	TBD
Ethiopia Kayon Mountain Taaroo	100	TBD
Ethiopia Guji Hambela Dabaye	100	TBD
Ethiopia Honey Process Guji Goro	10	TBD
Ethiopia Organic Agaro Geta Bore	40	TBD
Ethiopia Organic Gera Nano Challa	80	TBD
Ethiopia Organic Agaro Kenisa	40	TBD
Ethiopia Organic Dry Process Birbirsa	60	TBD
Ethiopia Uraga Gogogu	120	TBD
Ethiopia Uraga Raro Boda	100	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Chelbesa Danche	100	TBD
Ethiopia Uraga Barkume	115	TBD
Ethiopia Honey Process Barkume	45	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Bensa Kokose	35	TBD
Ethiopia Uraga Siko	90	TBD
Ethiopia Dry Process Guji Gogogu	90	TBD

YemenYemen has a coffee culture like no other place, and perhaps some of what we enjoy in this cup is due to their old style of trade...: Technically,... ...more MokhaThe Yemeni type of coffee, both in terms of the family of cultivars planted there, and the general trade name.: Mokha Yemeni type of coffee, both in terms... ...more Matari	150	ETA 5/20
Yemen Sharqui Haraz	75	ETA 5/20
Yemen Mokha Sanani	75	ETA 5/20
Yemen Mokha Haimi	50	ETA 5/20
Yemen Al Qafr Hawari	50	ETA 5/20
Yemen Mokha PeaberryThe Spanish-language term for Peaberry is the same for "snail". See Peaberry for more information on the single bean fruit of the coffee tree. A peaberry is the... ...more	50	ETA 5/20
Yemen Special Selections (name will change)	50	ETA 5/20
Kenya Thika Karatu Peaberry	12	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kii Peaberry	17	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kamwangi Peaberry	19	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kainamui AB	20	Landed
Kenya Muranga Kangunu AA	40	Landed
Kenya Muranga Kangunu Peaberry	18	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kainamui Peaberry	22	Landed
Kenya Kiambu Spike AA	20	Landed
Kenya Kiambu Spike AB	30	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kariani Peaberry	15	Landed
Kenya Kathakwa Peaberry	18	Landed
Kenya Thika Karatu Peaberry	11	Landed
Kenya Kiamugumo Peaberry	21	Landed
Kenya Kirinyaga Kamwangi AA	30	Landed
Kenya Muranga Kangunu Peaberry	20	Landed
Kenya Dry Process Burumani	13	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Chinga Peaberry	8	TBD
Kenya Othaya Gatuyaini AB	11	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Gichichi AA	37	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Ichamama AA	30	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Kamoini Peaberry	12	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Kamoini AA	30	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Kamoini AA Lot 2	34	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Kamoini AB	39	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Karuthi AA	24	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Kiaguthu Peaberry	6	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Maganjo Peaberry	8	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Ndaroini AA	30	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Ndaroini AB	30	TBD
Kenya Nyeri Rukira Peaberry	8	TBD

South America Incoming Coffees

Coffees	Bags	ETA
Colombia Edward Sandoval Wush Wush	4	Arrived
Colombia San Antonio Doña Rosa	8	Arrived
Colombia Inzá Maximino Cuchimbe	5	Arrived
Colombia El Virgel Carlos Emilio Chiroso	12	Arrived
Colombia Edward Sandoval Gesha	10	Arrived
Colombia Pitalito Evelio Pink BourbonA coffee cultivar; a cross between Typica and Bourbon, originally grown in Brazil: Mundo Novo is a commercial coffee cultivar; a natural hybrid between "Sumatra" and Red Bourbon,... ...more	10	Arrived
Colombia Pitalito Evelio CaturraCatimor is a broad group of cultivars derived from a Hibrido de Timor (HdT) and Caturra cross, highly productive, sometimes with inferior cup flavor. The main issue is... ...more	14	Arrived
Colombia Leonardo Henao Gesha	20	Arrived
Colombia Cajamarca Alexander Mancilla	11	Arrived
Colombia China Alta Geraldine Buitrago	6	Arrived
Colombia China Alta Reinaldo Parra	12	Arrived
Colombia Inzá Vereda San Antonio	15	Arrived
Colombia Inzá Vereda Belén	22	Arrived
Colombia Inzá Rio Páez	24	Arrived
Colombia Inzá Veredas Vecinas	57	Arrived
Colombia Urrao La Despensa Chiroso	15	Arrived
Colombia Productores de Pitalito	40	Arrived

Central America Incoming Coffees

Guatemala Antigua La Folie	45	ETA June
Guatemala Antigua Pulcal Inteligente	51	ETA June
Guatemala Antigua Hunapu Ciudad Vieja	15	ETA June
Guatemala Antigua Pavón Farm	16	ETA June
Guatemala Antigua FincaSpanish 101: Finca is the Spanish word for farm. Sometimes the term Hacienda is used to imply an Estate, which would mean the farm has its own wet-mill.... ...more Cabrejo	30	ETA June
Guatemala Antigua Java	23	ETA June
Guatemala Quiche	61	ETA June
Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista Java	70	ETA June
Guatemala Acatenango Gesha A	60	ETA June
Guatemala Acatenango Gesha AA	70	ETA June
Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista Bourbon	134	ETA June
Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista Pink Bourbon	5	ETA June
Guatemala Coban Chichupak Coop	40	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Carmelino Sales	10	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Lisandro Hidalgo	20	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Sandra Hidalgo	10	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Axel Villatoro	14	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Miriam Gomez	20	ETA June
Guatemala Michicoy Finca Rosma	24	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul San Pedro Necta	40	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Bojonalito	20	ETA June
Guatemala Keneth Merida PacamaraAs the name implies, Pacamara is a large bean cultivar, a cross between Pacas and Maragogype with unique flavor properties. This variant originated in El Salvador in 1958,... ...more	13	ETA June
Guatemala Honey Process Aguacatones	5	ETA June
Guatemala Anaerobic Aguacatones	2	ETA June
Guatemala Dry Process Finca Rosma	5	ETA June
Guatemala Dry Process Aguacatones	5	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Aler Villatoro	20	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Rosalio Villatoro	20	ETA June
Guatemala Huehuetenango Boqueroncito	20	ETA June
Guatemala Xinabajul Flavio Martinez	20	ETA June
Guatemala Libertad Aurelio del Cerro	22	ETA June
Costa Rica Cerro Alto La Union	35	ETA June
Costa Rica Honey Sumava Kenia VarietyA botanical variety is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy below the rank of species and subspecies and above the rank of form (form / variety / subspecies... ...more	10	ETA June
Costa Rica Tarrazú Cerro La Cruz	25	ETA June
Costa Rica Don Mayo La Loma	35	ETA June
Costa Rica Don Mayo La Loma Lot 2	40	ETA June
Costa Rica Don Oscar Aguacates	40	ETA June
Costa Rica Red Honey Don Oscar El Coyote	35	ETA June
Costa Rica Red Honey Typica Mejorado	5	ETA June
Costa Rica Chirripo Finca Jose	25	ETA June
Costa Rica Chirripo Finca Jose Lot 2	25	ETA June
Costa Rica West Valley Sumava Milenium	15	ETA June
Mexico El Triunfo	50	ETA June
Mexico High Mountain	50	ETA June
Mexico Malitzi	50	ETA June
El Salvador Miravalles Sampacho	49	ETA June
El Salvador Atiquizaya Tabi	36	ETA June
El Salvador Finca Miravalles CaturraCaturra is an Arabica cultivar discovered as a natural mutant of Bourbon in Brazil in the first decade of the 20th century,  but wasn't studied until 1937. It... ...more	9	ETA June
El Salvador Finca Miravalles Castillo	51	ETA June
El Salvador Finca Miravalles Bourbon	28	ETA June
El Salvador Finca San Miguel Bourbon	14	ETA June
El Salvador Miravalles Yellow BourbonYellow Bourbon is a subtype that has fruit which ripens to a yellow color, found mainly in Brazil where it was first grown. Bourbon coffees are named for... ...more	12	ETA June
El Salvador Honey Process Finca Miravalles	23	ETA June
El Salvador Dry Process Finca San Luis	30	ETA June
El Salvador Dry Process Ana Café	19	ETA June
El Salvador Dry Process Cuscatleco	8	ETA June
El Salvador Miravalles Pacamara	4	ETA June
NicaraguaNicaraguan coffees from the Segovia, Jinotega, Ocotal and Matagalpa regions are nice balanced cups. They often possess interesting cup character along with body and balance, outperforming many other... ...more Buenos Aires Los Pinos	40	ETA June
Nicaragua Acopio Suyatal	50	ETA June
Nicaragua Dipilto Monte Libano	30	ETA June
Nicaragua Ojo de Agua	15	ETA June
Nicaragua Finca Buenos Aires	40	ETA June
Nicaragua Los Alpes Caturra	5	ETA June
Nicaragua Buenos Aires Peaberry	5	ETA June
Nicaragua MaracaturraAs the name indicates cross between large-bean Maragogype and Caturra cultivars. : As the name indicates cross between large-bean Maragogype and Caturra cultivars. It seems to be found... ...more Los Medios	20	ETA June
Nicaragua Buenos Aires Java	20	ETA June
Nicaragua Buenos Aires Maracaturra	20	ETA June
Nicaragua Honey Process Maracaturra	20	ETA June
Nicaragua Dry Process Maracaturra	20	ETA June
Nicaragua Dipilto Finca La Laguna	5	ETA June

Indonesia & SE Asia & Oceania Incoming Coffees

Laos Paksong CatiguaCatigua coffee variety is a cross between Yellow Catuai IAC 86 and Hibrido de Timor. it was developed in 1980s by The Agricultural Research Company of Minas Gerais... ...more	12	ETA June
Laos Paksong Gesha	12	ETA June
Laos Paksong Typica	12	ETA June
Sumatra Lintong Sigumpar Village	30	ETA June
Sumatra Dry Process Bebesen Aulia	20	ETA June
Sumatra Wet ProcessWet-processing starts by removing the outer skin of the coffee cherry with a machine called a pulper, then fermenting the remaining fruit (with green bean inside) in water... ...more Kerinci Pendekar	10	ETA June
Sumatra Honey Process Kerinci Pendekar	10	ETA June
Sumatra Wet Hulled Pegasing Syahurna	30	ETA June
Sumatra Giling Basah GayoGayo is ethnic group from the area of Aceh Sumatra around Lake Takengon. They use the name Gayo Coffee to market their production. The Acehnese are a different... ...more Pegasing	30	ETA June
SulawesiSulawesi coffees are low-acid with great body and that deep, brooding cup profile akin to Sumatra. The coffee is sometimes known as Celebes, which was the Dutch colonial... ...more Dry Process Napu RobustaAteng is a common name for Catimor coffees widely planted in Sumatra and other Indonesia isles.: Ateng, with several subtypes, is a common name for Catimor coffees widely... ...more	5	ETA June
Sumatra Giling Basah Gegarang	30	ETA June
Sumatra Wet Hulled Ribang Gayo	30	ETA June
Sumatra Wet Process Ribang Gayo	30	ETA June
Sumatra Dry Process Ribang Gayo	20	ETA June
Sumatra Wet Hulled Kerinci Pendekar	30	ETA June
Sulalwesi Honey Enrekang Angin Angin	10	ETA June
Sumatra Dry Process Kerinci Pendekar	20	ETA June
Sumatra Giling Basah Bebesen Aulia	20	ETA June