Nichemarketsforspecialtycoffeeshavebeen
gatheringstrengthoverthepastyearsand
shouldgrowevenfurtherinthefuture,says
specialistsofthesector
F
or some years now, and partic-
ularly in recent times, there has
been an intensification of the val-
ue attributed to specialty coffees,
distinguished for their quality,
both at home and abroad. This is attested
byanalystsof the sector andmarket agents,
observing that this niche poses a potential
for huge increases over the next years, with-
in the perspective of rising demand. Within
this consumption line, the expansion in the
use of coffee capsules is a factor, as well as
changes in themanner coffee is prepared.
In a recent survey, professors Paulo
Henrique Leme and Elisa Guimarães, from
the Federal University of Lavras (Ufla), in
Minas Gerais, and Sérgio Parreiras, from
the Agronomic Institute in Campinas (IAC)
observed an intensification of the move-
ment relating to the market of specialty
coffees, favored by the soaring use of cof-
fee capsules, while other methods are
in the pipeline. They ascertained an in-
crease in the consumption of specialty
coffees at home, besides growing con-
cerns with toasted coffees and the prepa-
ration of distinguished coffees.
The 24th National Congress of the
Coffee Industries (Encafé), in Novem-
ber 2016, in Bahia, reinforced this con-
sumption behavior. Jefferson Carvalho,
from Rabobank, presented a survey by
a Dutch bank indicating that the market
of capsules had 4 companies in 2014 and
has already evolved to 150 in 2016; it ac-
counted for R$ 1.1 billion that year and
is expected to grow 2.2 times until 2019.
Therefore, in his opinion, it comes as a
big opportunity for businesses.
Another consultancy, Euromonitor In-
ternational, in the same event reiterated
the perspective of a bigger evolution of
the segment of capsules within the gen-
eral growth estimated for demand in the
Country until 2020. Consultant André
Mendes highlighted the “third wave” in
the consumption of coffee, where the lo-
cal/regional and technical characteristics
are highly valued, once they have an im-
pact upon the flavor. After several phas-
es in this evolution, the present cycle em-
phasizes the way coffee is prepared, the
role of the “baristas” and the importance
of the clients, stated coffee connoisseur
Edgard Bressani.
According to his information, the Bra-
zilian production of specialty coffees in the
2015/16 crop year remained between 6 to
8 million sacks, coming from 11 states and
more than 300 thousand farms. The Bra-
zilian Coffee Exporters Council (CECafé)
maintains that, in 2016, exports of distin-
guished coffees, the ones that are superior
in quality or come from some type of certi-
fied sustainable practices, corresponded to
5.93 million sacks, representing 17.4% of
the coffee shipped in this season.
n
n
n
n
Higher value
Revenue obtained from this production modality reached US$ 1.7 billion over the year, representing 21.7% of the total gen-
erated by the export sector. The average price of these coffees reached US$ 197.69 per sack, while common coffees fetched US$
158.90, strengthening the difference in the value of the product. The United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and Belgium, in the se-
quence, were the leading buyers. Brazil, the entity insists, continues on a firmtrack for the sector to keep its level of quality, whilst
making strides in several requisites, like production sustainability, for example.
Itmakesa
difference
Soaring use of coffee capsules calls for more attention to distinguished coffees
Sílvio Ávila
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