Coffee and its economic importance

Jobs for 25 million people

Thanks to advancing industrialization, coffee developed into one of the most important global commodities in the 19th century – after petroleum, even the most valuable export product for many producing countries. Due to technological advances, coffee is now significantly cheaper to grow, process, and transport than in the past.

Modern washing, drying, and roasting processes ensure consistently high quality to meet growing global demand. At the same time, innovative transportation methods have reduced delivery times from several months to just a few weeks. With the rise of container ships, coffee is now practically available at any time.

The once-privileged wonder bean is now one of the world's most important commodities. With its ever-refining processing and roasting techniques, Germany is the largest exporter of coffee products. In 2016, 1.14 million tons of green coffee were imported. Approximately 98 percent of the nine million tons of green coffee harvested annually comes from Arabica and Robusta plants. The robust Coffea canephora (Robusta) is primarily cultivated in Southeast Asia, India, and West Africa.

The more delicate Arabica plants require a balanced climate, thrive only above 800 meters in altitude, and are more labor-intensive. They are concentrated in East Africa and South and Central America. Worldwide, approximately 70 percent of all plants are still cultivated by small farmers and small cooperatives.

fair Trade

Only 5–15 percent of the retail price for coffee reaches the farmer in the exporting country. The constant price war is making it increasingly difficult for small cooperatives to survive. Initiatives like the Fairtrade label are therefore committed to improving the living and working conditions of people at the end of the production chain.

Approximately one-third of the world's raw coffee production comes from Brazil, the largest producer and consumer. There, coffee is cultivated in fertile regions using various methods and, after harvesting, is usually packed as dried raw coffee in sacks or as bulk goods in containers.

Drying reduces weight, lowers transport costs, and prevents unwanted fermentation. From ports like Santos, the coffee is shipped to Rotterdam or Hamburg, Europe's largest coffee import port. To avoid taxes on already roasted coffee and to ensure quality, roasting usually takes place in Germany or other destination countries like Italy.

From the coffee bush in Brazil to the cup of espresso in the café, 25 million people worldwide depend directly or indirectly on coffee – as farmers, plantation owners, cooperative members, traders, importers and exporters, brokers, or processing companies. A total of 150 million sacks of green coffee are produced annually.