PRICES GOIN’ UP

WHY ARE THE PRICES GOING UP?

Great question. THERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY THE PRICES are GOING UP. First, HERe’s a brief explanation of how the price of coffee is Established.

SUMMARY

(FOR THose who don’t want to read)

PRICES THEN = $$$$ ——> PRICES NOW = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

C-MARKET

There is a global exchange called the c-market where coffee is traded every day. Here, the intercontinental exchange sets the global price for coffee. This price has been on a consistent rise since 2018 when we began roasting. At that time the price was set at ~$1/lb. Now, the prices are set at ~$4/lb. Here are the reasons why:

• extreme Weather

  • Heavy rains have led to a decrease in harvest yields FROM the worlds leading producing countries brazil and vietnam to Smaller countries and microlot producers.

  • reduced crop yields have also occurred due to unexpected frost and drought conditions.

• GLOBAL DEMAND

  • As the production of coffee has declined, the demand for it has increased. This puts pressure on producers to meet demand which leads to a strain on the global supply.

• PRODUCTION COSTS

  • NOT ONLY ARE producers facing extreme weather and Global Demand pressure, they have also seen a rise in operating costs. Transportation, labor, and fertilizer are all rising as well.

  • We have seen firsthand how these costs have strained producers during our visit to origins such as Guatemala and El Salvador. Labor is hard to find, transportation is very difficult, and the expense of properly using quality fertilizer Takes TIME and money. All of these factors affect how much a producer is paid for their crop yield even after facing factors they can’t control.

• GEOPOLITICAL CLIMATE

  • INSTABILITY FROM INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND FOREIGN POLITICS LEADS TO MARKET VOLATILITY.

We continue to source specialty coffee from cafe imports and benefit from the relationships they have worked diligently to create with small farmers, independent producers, and cooperatives. The price for SPECIALTY coffee IS EVEN higher than the c-market by more than $1/lb. However, by paying this premium price, we are directly supporting the Economic equality of Small farmers and exporters. We believe we have a social responsibility to operate in an equitable manner because there should be Economic equality and financial stability throughout the coffee supply chain. Whatever small contribution we make to the Beautiful world of coffee is going to be a positive one.

SMALL BUSINESS IN MINNEAPOLIS

THE COFFEE SUPPLY CHAIN BEGINS AT ORIGIN and ends here in minneapolis, for us at least. You might be familiar with the constant rise of pricing here at home when you go to pay rent or shop for groceries. We are dealing with the same thing. As a small business we are asked to do a lot in order to turn a profit AND RUNNING SUCH A BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA can be DIFFICULT. It is especially hard in our city. There are several reasons for that:

• HIGHER TAXES

• HIGHER lABOR RATES

• INCREASE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS

• COLD WEATHER

the cost of doing business is high. in order to continue existing and GROWING, we need to increase our prices. This is something we understand can put a strain on you, the consumer, and we want you to know that we still have you in mind.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE PAYING FOR

WE know it is tough at times to pay for expensive coffee. AND the coffee that we source isn’t the cheapest. But, Buying “cheap” coffee isn’t a good thing for the coffee-growing communities. the effort that goes into harvesting quality coffee deserves fair compensation. when fair compensation is provided, lives are changed and positive impacts are made. HERE’s how we are making a difference:

• SPECIALTY COFFEE

  • We pay top dollar for quality coffee. This improves the lives of those involved in the global coffee trade. it guarantees safe working conditions for laborers. it supports their communities by giving them the access to education, healthcare, and other resources.

  • we participate in Ethical sourcing. our intention is to source with transparency and traceability. These are keys to the longevity and success of the coffee industry.

  • we travel to origins to communicate with farmers and producers. this helps Improve the farmers understanding of what the consumer wants and how to implement those changes in their crops. In turn, the farmer is paid more.

• SUSTAINABility

  • compostable Packaging

    • we offer compostable bags because we love the earth and all the living things on it. Our compostable bags are not waste. they reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources, lower our carbon footprint, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    • we will continue INVEST IN compostable packaging and repurposed materials for all of our MATERIAL NEEDS.

the premium prices of our specialty coffee and sustainable packaging aren’t just for looks. We believe what we are doing is making a positive impact on the world around us. although the prices are high and climbing, we will continue to offer an outstanding product at an affordable price. you’re tasting coffees that have a story. You’re experiencing that coffee from a shop dedicated to the community, both at home and around the world. You’re consuming that coffee in an environmentally friendly way.

misfit mission

WE LOVE MINNEAPOLIS AND THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS OUR COFFEE CULTURE. BY SUPPORTING US, WE can assure you that we will do everything in our power to pass that support up along the coffee supply chain, back to our staff and to our community. we want small farmers and producers to have livable wages and all the tools and information necessary to own their means of production. we want our staff to GET PAID, be fulfilled in their work, and furthered by their craft by fostering a creative and encouraging environment. we want the community to feel welcomed and engaged even when things SEEM grim. We want to be a social beam that strengthens and provides. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU buy FOR OUR COFFEE.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the price increases or any of the above information, please use the form below to submit them and we will get back to you as soon as we can.