Regional Guatemalan coffees at Anacafe's lab.

Guatemala grabs one by the eyes and taste buds!

Table ready for cupping at Wolthers, Vittrup - Guatemala.

Our Grader and Quality Director, Guilhermo Huezo, doing his thing.

Cynthia and Guilhermo at Wolthers - Vittrup Guatemala.

CBW at the Coffee Fest in Seattle, lots of goodies!

Is this Fall or Fire in Portland?

Newsletter  

11-9-10

Good day coffee friends!
  
The Agua Volcano as seen from under the Antigua Market Arches.

 

As mentioned in my last News Letter, I spent a week in Guatemala this early October and during my stay, I cupped some very fresh prime washed lots, visited the production areas and met with various exporters.

 

 

 

A new crop Coffee in " Oro " state at Anacafe's  Lab.

The green coffee export outlook for Guatemala in this new crop cycle looks very good. The hurricane season brought a lot o rain to the country, but no losses to coffee plantations. Only a few roads and bridges suffered damages, now repaired. The Production should reach the 4 million bags and the quality will reflect the known high standard we usually expect from that origin.

 
Visiting Finca Philadelphia in Antigua.
 

On the other hand, there are some points of tension for the coffee market. The crop is 30 days late as maturation slowed down during September and early October. Another important factor is that Exporters have not sold more than 15% of the incoming crop. This is due to a voluntary coffee retention behavior by producers.

   

Christian Wolthers, this October 2010 at Finca Piladelphia in Guatemala.

Some producers received pre-harvest financing from exporters or banks. They told me that they will deliver the committed amounts and manage by price or need the sale of their remaining harvest.

 
Finca Philadelphia's Beneficio

On this same line of strategy, exporters are not willing to risk and sell short any of the exportable qualities, thus the very low volume sold for this new crop season. The low volume of sales and delayed shipment situation in Guatemala seems to be the case in other Central American countries such as Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

Our Guilhermo Huezo and Philadelphia's coffee specialists.

Regarding Costa Rica, The Torrential Rains that covered the country last week, have caused serious damage to most roads that lead up to the production zones. As a matter of fact, the excess of rains during the last couple of months has promoted the spreading of leaf fungus this could eventually rotten the coffee cherries after leaf loss. There are no accurate estimates of damage caused by fungus yet but producers are worried. We will certainly have a much better picture of this situation later this week as the Sintercafe meeting happens in San Jose, Costa Rica.

 
 
 
A door to the coffee drying patio.

Brazil

 

is pumping coffee into the export pipeline, more than 3 million bags were shipped out of Brazilian ports in October and another 3 million are expected to be shipped in November. 

 

These massive export figures come to compensate the delays and short shipments in July, August and September 2010 as the sugar exports out of Brazil blocked ports and drew from the trucking capacity during those 90 days, the peak of sugar exports.

Guatemalan private home inner patio, almost heavenly.

 

Brazilcontinues to have the most competitive differential when looking at Arabica coffees with desirable cup quality. European and Asian roasters have been impeccable in the timing and increased purchased volume of different preparations for July 2010 through June 2011 shipments.

 

North American roasters have also covered some nearby demand but seem reluctant to add more volume at these attractive differentials as the NY "C" contract prices have escalated far above the internal consumer price increases obtained during these last 4 months. While I can't separate the "C" contract prices from our everyday reality, I believe that the Brazilian coffee  differential will start to shorten quite noticeably. It only takes the internal Brazilian roaster Industry to evaluate the "frugal " future availability of green coffee as export sales expand in volume and the next crop, confirms to be of a lower yield/productivity.

 

Brazil has already sold  55% of its export capacity for this crop cycle, about 16.5 million bags, additionally, exporters and Coops have also sold circa 10% ( 3 million bags ) of the expected 2011/12 export performance, the buyers of most of these coffees were again cautious European and Asian roasters covering at the current wide and attractive differentials.

 

On another tone, I visited the Northwestern cities of Portland and Seattle last week, it was amazing to experience the variety and originality of the Micro Roaster movement happening in Portland.

 

The Seattle specialty coffee shop model has expanded towards its closest Southern neighbor City and re-surfaced with a whole new vibrant and fertile model. Most of the  new stores have own roasting equipment, lots of coffee culture, creative design and a delicious taste experience with coffees in  " Micro Lots " , from around the world.

 

The Seattle Coffee Fest was also a great stop.
Back home in South Florida, as the first cold wave arrived this November and inspired me towards enjoying a hot and rich cup of coffee under the shade of the palm trees.
The floor was packed with retailers and Micro Roasters from across the country and abroad,  Exhibitors did a great job with loads of new products and many exciting coffees to show.

 

Finally, while green coffee seems short in the market, turkeys are long, have a happy holiday this late November.

 

Christian Bendz Wolthers

Wolthers America, Inc.

CONTRACT

QUALITY

BAGS

SHIPMENT

DESTINATION  LOCATION

 

P WA 091/10

Ipanema Yellow Icatu , Screen 16 up, Natural Prep, Sund Dried "Rio Verde Estate", Crop 09/10

 

3

 

 

Costa Oro, Portland

 

P WA 132/10

NuCoffee Specialty "Micro Lots"  Brazil Crop 09/10

scr 18, Paraiso Farm

 

 

 

14

 

The Annex, Oakland

 

 

P WA 150/10

NIMA Ipanema Espresso Blend Natural, Pulped and Washed Prep, Screen 16/18, SS, Fine Cup, Crop 09/10

 

20 boxes, 10 kg each

 

All Jay's, NY

 

 

P WA 151/10

NIMA Ipanema Ouro Preto, Full Washed, Screen 16/18, SS, Fine Cup, Acaia Mundo Novo Varieties, UTZ Certified, Crop 09/10

 

14 boxes, 10 kg each

 

All Jay's, NY

 

 

P WA 152/10

NIMA Ipanema Gourmet, Pulped Natural, Screen 16/18, SS, FC, Crop 09/10, UTZ Certified

 

20 boxes, 10 kg each

 

All Jay's, NY

 

 

P WA 153/10

NIMA Ipanema Yellow Catuai, Screen 16 up, Pulped Natural Prep, Sun Dried "Rio Verde Estate", R.A Certified, Crop 09/10

 

14 boxes, 10 kg each

 

All Jay's, NY

 

 

P WA 154/10

NIMA Ipanema Bossa Nova, Screen 16/18, SS, FC, Natural Prep, Sun dried,  R.A Certified, Crop 09/10

 

14 boxes, 10 kg each

 

All Jay's, NY

 

 

P WA 156/10

Ipanema Ouro Preto, Full Washed, Screen 16/18, SS, Fine Cup, Acaia Mundo Novo Varieties, UTZ Certified, Crop 09/10

 

46

 

Costa Oro, Portland

 

 

P WA 157/10

Ipanema Gourmet, Pulped Natural, Screen 16/18, SS, FC, Crop 09/10, UTZ Certified

 

9

 

Costa Oro, Portland

 

 

P WA 160/10

Ipanema Espresso Blend Natural, Pulped and Washed Prep, Screen 16/18, SS, Fine Cup, Crop 09/10

 

57

 

Pacific Distributions, Seattle

 

 

P WA 161/10

Ipanema Ouro Preto, Full Washed, Screen 16/18, SS, Fine Cup, Acaia Mundo Novo Varieties, UTZ Certified, Crop 09/10

 

50

 

Pacific Distributions, Seattle

 

 

P WA 162/10

Ipanema Gourmet, Pulped Natural, Screen 16/18, SS, FC, Crop 09/10, UTZ Certified

 

39

 

Pacific Distributions, Seattle

 

P WA 189/10

NuCoffee Specialty Cerrado Region "Micro Lots" Brazil, Cro 09/10, scr 18, Porteira da Onca Farm

 

5

 

 

All Jay's, NY

P WA 230/10

Brazil - Nucoffee Grinders, screen 13/18, Soft uniform cup, Natural preparation, crop 2010/11

 

320

Nov 10

International Coffee, Miami

P WA 231/10

Brazil - Nucoffee Superior, screen 14/16, Soft uniform cup, Natural preparation, crop 2010/11

 

320

Nov 10

International Coffee, Miami

P WA 232/10

Brazil - Nucoffee Special, screen 17/18, Soft uniform cup, Natural preparation, crop 2010/11

 

320

Nov 10

The Annex, Oakland




 

CONTRACT

QUALITY

BAGS

SHIPMENT

DESTINATION  LOCATION

 

P WA 203/10

Brazil Cerrado, USDA Certified Organic Coffee from N.S Fatima, Crop 09/10, SS, FC, SAS

 

90

 

August/ September 10

The Annex, Oakland

$ 3.20 c/lb

 

CONTRACT

QUALITY

BAGS

LOCATION

PRICE

 

P WA 200/10

HawaiiKona Parry Estate Extra Fancy - Current crop   RA Certified

25

(100 lbs each)

The Annex, Oakland

10.50 c/lb

 

P WA 201/10

#1's

RA  Certified

15 bags

(100 lbs each)

The Annex, Oakland

9.50 c/lb

 

P WA 202/10

PRIMES

RA  Certified

15 bags

(100 lbs each)

The Annex, Oakland

9.00 c/ lb

Wolthers America

5150 SW 48th Way Bay 609 / Davie, FL / 33314

P#954-7970078 / F#954-3219266

[email protected]