Technology and Coffee

Covid-19 has had a massive impact on the globe with very few countries managing to remain free of the virus. Many businesses and industries continue to suffer immensely as people stay at home in an effort to control the spread of the virus. The coffee industry has also been affected and not many people are going for out for coffee as much as they did before the virus struck.

Impact on coffee restaurants and cafes

Coffee chains restaurants and shops are the most affected in the consumer market. Given this is one of the outlets that has led to an increase in distribution and consumption, reduced customers have caused a significant reduction in sales. However, on the positive side, the lockdowns have also led to a new way of coffee distribution, such as online and home deliveries.

Impact on coffee producing countries

In coffee-producing countries, negative effects are also being felt. Such effects include labour shortages because of social distancing measures and lockdowns, lack of space in containers and delayed shipments. These effects have led to sudden market changes such as the case of different markets accelerating orders to pile up stock. The shortages will disrupt the supply chain, and many other long-term effects are still uncertain since no one knows when the pandemic will end.

If the times are to get better, and the economy recovers in the following years, the growth of coffee distribution might pick up. However, as of now, coffee farmers can only wait and see.

Already, there is a decrease in coffee demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With a global pandemic underway and a recession already occurring, many people do not have had to forgo luxuries like the daily coffee. Also, coffee houses and restaurants were social places that people met frequently. This has had to change thanks to social distancing and lockdowns.

Many cafes and restaurants are now adopting new ways of selling coffee, hoping that somehow, they will be able to keep the sales high. However, one can already tell that it will take time before the coffee industry fully adapts to these changes.

The least affected side of the coffee market is retailers who opt to roast their coffee. In as much as shipments might lead to a shortage for some time, this side of the consumer has a lesser interaction with the production chain, which means fewer interruptions due to the pandemic. Roasting also happens on demand which is a good thing. As for other distributors, the best they can do is move with technology, example, by providing efficient ordering and payment methods as well as looking at other revenue lines.