Inflation

[Thermal]

Here in a coffee-growing part of Colombia a local dark roast retail price is just under $13 USD for half a kilo. Excellent coffee (100% Arábica) is grown here, it's everywhere.

The USD has declined about 25% against the Colombian peso since January of 2025 thanks to the carry trade the Colombian currency has been experiencing. January of 2025 that same half a kilo would have cost approx $9.50 USD retail here.

Do you know what your prices were around COVID and the preceding years? I only noticed this coffee in particular because I buy the coffee and like to catch a sale, and the spiking was obnoxious and way out of synch with other inflated prices, but no explanation for this one (ie: like the egg price spiking had bird flu as a sound justification).

 

[dirtywick]

looks like it is due to supply shortages, on again off again trade wars, and severe weather

Coffee News Recap, 12 Dec: USDA predicts coffee deficit in 2025/26

Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. Here are this week’s stories.

perfectdailygrind.com

 

[Thermal]

<Dupity dup>

 

[Thermal]

looks like it is due to supply shortages, on again off again trade wars, and severe weather

Which is the normal stuff that affects the price in normal ways. Retail tripling across 5 years is out of synch.

 

[dirtywick]

Which is the normal stuff that affects the price in normal ways. Retail tripling across 5 years is out of synch.

i don't think any of that is normal, it's the explanation for the out of synch inflation

 

[Thermal]

i don't think any of that is normal, it's the explanation for the out of synch inflation

On and off trade wars are a very very normal thing in any economy. Severe weather is affecting the whole planet. But the retail of other products haven't tripled and stayed there. That's out of synch, and no clear explanation.

I mean Jesus christ man, wars impact gas prices radically less than this. Gas goes up. It doesn't triple in cost in the time frame I am talking about. Pretty much nothing else goes up that fast.

 

[dirtywick]

oh ok, guess it's just random then

 

[Thermal]

oh ok, guess it's just random then

Or recreational gouging. It bothers me because they keep talking like inflation is more mild than it is. On most things that I actually pay attention to it is waaaaay out of kilter with reported rates.

 

[Frank Newgent]

Which is the normal stuff that affects the price in normal ways. Retail tripling across 5 years is out of synch.

What, do you think you are in a normal country?

Do you know what your prices were around COVID and the preceding years? I only noticed this coffee in particular because I buy the coffee and like to catch a sale, and the spiking was obnoxious and way out of synch with other inflated prices, but no explanation for this one (ie: like the egg price spiking had bird flu as a sound justification).

Wasn't here during COVID.

Coffee I just brewed this morning is called a café acaramelado, with prominent caramel notes along with a naturally sweet, buttery, and toasty aroma. Or down on the street is a little café where you can get a super nice capuchino for just over two USD.



Colombian friend of mine has three hectares of coffee growing on his place outside town, they are starting the main harvest right now after some really nice rainfall lately. Every cherry is hand picked.