Mini Case: The Coffee Supply Chain

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages globally, and especially in the United States. Statista reports that 26.7 million bags of coffee were sold during one year in the US alone (cold brew is the most popular drink in Colorado)! But how does the coffee actually get here in the first place?

The coffee supply chain chain is a global behemoth with many moving parts, but it all starts with the growers. Next, the raw beans are processed at the farm, or at a processing facility. Third, the green-colored beans are shipped by exporters. This is when the beans may arrive at your local coffee shop, though they still must be roasted. Fourth, the beans are roasted, and then they are finally delivered to your coffee shop or retailer, ready to consume.

Thus, even excluding government regulators and the many other intermediaries that are involved between many components of the supply chain, it is clear that the ability to order a cappuccino in nearly any rural US town is a miracle of organization and resource allocation. ​

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Sources: 

​https://club.atlascoffeeclub.com/coffee-supply-chain/

​https://coffeeaffection.com/coffee-consumption-in-the-us-by-state/