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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
