Coffee, the beloved and ubiquitous beverage, is cherished by millions around the world, a daily ritual that kickstarts the day with its invigorating aroma and diverse flavors. Coffee’s history is remarkably diverse, spanning centuries and continents, from its humble origins in Ethiopia to its integration into cultures worldwide. Its rich heritage is deeply embedded in global societies, fostering connections and conversations that transcend borders and generations.
According to Ethiopian legend, around the 9th century, a goat herder noticed that his goats became more energetic after eating the red berries from a certain tree. Curious about this, he tried the berries himself and experienced a similar surge of energy. The discovery caught the attention of local monks, who began using the berries to create a beverage. The knowledge of this energizing drink slowly spread to other monasteries and regions, including the Arabian Peninsula.
By the 15th century, coffee had become an integral part of the culture, with coffeehouses known as “qahveh khaneh” emerging as places of intellectual and social interaction. By the 17th century, coffee had made its way to Europe, with the first coffeehouse opening in Venice in 1645. Coffeehouses quickly became centers of communication, debate, and entertainment.
Coffee cultivation expanded to European colonies in regions like the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. The Dutch brought coffee plants to Java (Indonesia), the French introduced coffee to the Caribbean, and the Spanish planted coffee in Central and South America. The tropical climates in these regions were conducive to coffee cultivation.
Present day, with the world now drinking upwards of 3 billion cups a day, the global base for coffee demand has significantly broadened beyond mature markets such as the EU, the United States and Japan. Combined, Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia produce most of the world’s coffee, accounting for 74% of total production. Annually, more than 130 million coffee bags are exported, which is the equivalent of roughly 400,000, 20-foot container loads.
Stuffed in the biggest available container ship, around eighteen such vessels would be needed to carry this quantity. If stacked one container on top of the other, they would reach as high as satellites in the lower Earth orbit. This is a lot of coffee, so its trade must be well organized to avoid costly mistakes, disruptions, and losses. Roasted coffee shipping is a nuanced endeavor centered on two priorities: conserving exquisite flavors and ensuring damage-free transit.
Given coffee’s vulnerability to heat and moisture, maintaining climate-controlled conditions with real-time monitoring and robust barrier security becomes imperative. At TydenBrooks, we’re committed to offering robust layered security solutions, safeguarding your coffee shipments, preserving your brand integrity, and minimizing risks like pilferage and theft. Explore today’s blog for insights on optimizing your coffee security and monitoring strategies for enhanced operations and increased profits.
Coffee Shipment Vulnerabilities
- Coffee is normally shipped as green beans and is prone to water absorption and desorption.
- Temperature and moisture control are critical when shipping perishable items, including coffee. Moisture can lead to mold and bacterial growth, compromising product quality.
- Coffee is packaged in hessian/jute/poly lined bags or in bulk inside containers. In the latter mode a plastic inner liner is fitted into the container to hold the bulk for sanitary reasons.
- Woven polypropylene bags are more resistant to light external wetting. However, they do absorb heavy moisture, thus allowing the water to penetrate to the center of the coffee, whereas the fiber bags tend to hold water at the surface, thus confining damage to the outer layer of beans.
- Long standing severe wet damage can give rise to black, rotting bag fibers with solid coagulations of moldy beans below the surface. This may either be associated with heavy wet damage at the time of loading or excessive sweat damage due to condensation in the hold at the early stages of a long voyage.
- In the event of water damage being detected with break-bulk (non-container) shipments it is vital that the hold condition be established as early as possible, namely the position of the damaged bags in relation to the coffee cube in general e.g., in the upper, lower or extreme sides of the cube and the position relative to hatch openings and air vents.
- Where general purpose containers are involved, the same criteria apply as above, but special attention should be applied to the position of the damaged bags relative to the doors, roof and vents of the container. Wherever heavy damage is involved it is of utmost importance to establish the condition of the container on arrival and check for holes in the roof, defective door seals and other damage.
- In Integral Reefers, for transporting high quality “Gourmet coffee”, the container must be fitted with drain holes to drain away moisture. Recommended temperature setting is plus 13 degrees Celsius and with no air freshening, or plus 14 degrees Celsius with 10 per cent air freshening.
- Depending on the season and transport route “Dry Bag” desiccants are added for condensation control.
- To preserve coffee quality, proper storage is paramount. Opaque, airtight containers are recommended to prevent oxidation, which can lead to a bitter taste.
- Shipping cold brew concentrate and iced coffee presents unique challenges. Glass containers require careful wrapping and packing to prevent breakage.
- For iced coffee beverages containing milk, meticulous wrapping and secure packing are required. Temperature control is paramount to prevent spoilage.
Layered Coffee Shipment Security
Securing the World
In the world of coffee, where even the slightest moisture can spell disaster for the flavor and aroma, ensuring a seamless journey from bean to cup is of paramount importance. TydenBrooks’ dedication to providing cutting-edge layered security solutions means that your coffee shipments are shielded from the unpredictable elements, giving you peace of mind and allowing your brand’s essence to shine through every brew. To guarantee the security and safe transportation of your high-value high-risk perishables, partner with TydenBrooks today for unrivaled shipment protection.
