Page 11 - Cornwall Issue 5 2025

LIFESTYLE
THE TRUE VALUE OF

COFFEE

B Y F R E DE R I K DR E YE R
P H O T O G R A P H B Y I V A N M U L L E R

he price tag on your morning cappuccino has medium-rare every single time.
become an uncomfortable reality. But what if that
cost isn't just about supply and demand? It's the • A bad roaster can easily misrepresent the intrinsic value
Treflection of a journey—from a single farm to your of the bean by over-roasting or under-roasting the coffee.
cup—that few truly understand.
• Purchasing from a reputable coffee roaster can have a
We see the impact at our favourite cafes, or on our big impact in your cup quality.
shopping list. But what is the true value of coffee?
A barista is tasked in brewing the coffee to showcase its
To understand the true value of coffee we need to look at flavour and sweetness. If not careful, they can easily:
the different dimensions of coffee’s value. • Under-extract the coffee, which occurs when not enough
flavour compounds are dissolved from the coffee, leaving it
INTRINSIC VALUE (INHERENT TO THE COFFEE sour and sharp
BEAN ITSELF)
Every coffee has a different intrinsic value, which is • Over-extract the coffee, which occurs when too many
determined by its: flavour compounds are dissolved, leaving the coffee bitter,
• Origin & terroir dry, and harsh.
• Varietal / Genetics
• Farm practices Learning how to manipulate your espresso / brewing recipe
• Processing methods can immensely increase the amount of intrinsic value you
• Physical qualities get to present in the cup.
• Flavour qualities
MARKET VALUE (ECONOMIC VALUE)
The origin, varietal, farm practices, and processing
methods all directly impact a coffee's physical and flavour The C-price is the global market benchmark for Arabica
qualities, with the latter two often contributing most to its coffee, traded on the commodities exchange, and it sets
value. the base price for green coffee worldwide.
Coffee is traded on futures. Thus, the forecast for future
harvests impacts the coffee prices we see today (with a
The processing method refers to the process the washing slight supply chain delay).
station followed, after picking the coffee cherries from
the trees. It has a direct impact on the flavour profile, Supply and Demand is one of the largest influencers on the
sweetness and body of the coffee.
current price instability. As supply forecasts drive prices up
due to worsening weather patterns and demand increases
The most common processing method is washed, which the market value, the combination is creating our current
results in a cleaner, brighter cup with lighter body. price surge.

The second most popular method is natural, which results Coffee consumption all over the world is increasing. While
in a sweeter, often fruitier cup with a heavier body. (There supply can’t keep up. China, once a tea-drinking nation,
are many newer processing methods that can add even has recently started drinking a lot of coffee. Starbucks (one
more complexities and value to the cup.) company) opened 2 stores PER DAY in China alone in 2024.

Natural processed coffee commonly fetches a higher price EXTRINSIC VALUE
than washed coffee of the same quality grade. No matter the financial cost or the intrinsic value that a
coffee might have, for most of us, it's the extrinsic value
This is the value that is Intrinsic to the Bean. Everything that that keeps us coming back for another cup.
happens at origin has an impact on its quality, and thus it’s The time spent on our morning coffee-making ritual, or with
value. a friend in the park, sharing a lovely cup of coffee.

TRANSFORMATIVE VALUE (UNLOCKING AND Coffee brings us together, it grounds us in the moment,
PRESENTING THE BEANS POTENTIAL) and it gives us more than just a caffeine kick to take on
• The Transformative value is the worth added through whatever the day throws at us.
roasting and brewing.
That alone makes the true value of coffee worth any cost.
• Both roasting and brewing coffee is not a difficult task.
Just like braaiing a steak, anyone can do it, but it remains Frederik Dreyer: frederik@gegrond.co.za
an art that needs to be mastered to get it perfectly
Website: www.gegrond.co.za

Cornwall View • Issue 5 2025 9