Factors Contributing to Growth

​​Growing Demand

• After the industrial revolution, coffee consumption increased in North America.
  
• The invention of instant coffee during World War II increased demand for low-value beans from Africa. 

Transportation Advancements

• Railways made transportation to shipping hubs more reliable and cost effective. 
• Steam ships created reliable shipping passages so buyers could count on deliveries. This stabilized prices in stores. 

​Futures Market

• The futures market gave a degree of certainty that was necessary to construct large roasters and processors in North America. 
• This increased demand further as the price was decreased with economies of scale. 

Obstacles to Growth

Pests and Diseases

• Monoculture in Asia lead to many diseases, including leaf rust. 
• This decreased some areas production so drastically that they became importers of coffee, as seen in Ceylon. 

The Rising Cost of Labour

• When slavery was abolished, plantation owners had to create new ways to control their labour.
• In Brazil, growers paid for the passage of European workers and they would work off the debt for the rest of their lives. 

Environmental Abuse

• Unsustainable growing practices led to depletion of resources in some areas. 
• Clear cutting destroyed forest lands
• The construction of railways and infrastructure also had negative environmental effects.