Hello and welcome to our August newsletter!

It's been a full and meaningful few weeks here at Bennetts. We look back on a fantastic Beans & Banter – Costa Rican microlots, and look ahead to an exciting calendar, with CaféSmart Day, Fairtrade Fortnight, and our next Beans & Banter, all coming up in August.

Of course, we'll begin with our latest market report, covering the key movements in the coffee markets.

From industry insights to community impacts, we hope you enjoy this month's edition and find inspiration in the stories, people, and initiatives helping shape a stronger future for coffee.

Enjoy the read!

MARKET REPORT

If any of these terms in the market report are confusing, we urge you to use Investopedia to make sense of them. We have found it to be a brilliant tool when learning about all things trading, futures and currency.

July was the most volatile month of the year so far for Arabica coffee. While the market ultimately closed higher than it began, the journey was far from straightforward, with sharp price swings driven by a combination of technical trading activity and ongoing concerns around short-term coffee availability.

Arabica NY C Graph

Arabica opened July at 299.00 usc/lb, and finished the month at 331.50 usc/lb on the 31^st. The sharpest move came early in the month, when prices jumped by more than 50 usc/lb in a single day and briefly traded above 350 usc/lb, before reversing critically the following day. The rally appeared to be driven largely by trader positioning rather than any single new supply-and-demand factor. Investment fund activity, combined with automatic buying triggered at key price levels, helped exaggerate price movements. Multiple increases, followed by a decrease in exchange margin requirements, also contributed to the volatility.

Despite expectations of a large Brazilian crop, the market remains supported by limited availability of coffee for immediate delivery. Persistent rainfall across Brazil slowed harvesting and raised quality concerns, particularly for Fine Cups. Wet conditions also delayed semi-washed coffees entering export channels and reduced the amount of coffee suitable for tender against the exchange.

At the same time, certified Arabica stocks held within the ICE exchange system continued to decline, falling below 300,000 bags during the month. Low certified inventories remain an important indicator of limited readily available supply and continue to support nearby coffee prices. This pressure is reflected in the market inversion, where nearby contracts remain priced above later delivery months, indicating buyers' willingness to pay a premium for immediate availability.

Robusta also experienced a volatile month, although it attracted less attention than Arabica. Prices opened July at 3,678 USD/MT, briefly dipped to a monthly low of 3,655 USD/MT, and then rallied sharply to a high of 4,121USD/MT before settling back to close the month at 3,781 USD/MT. The move reflected familiar market pressures: limited nearby availability, logistics concerns, and uncertainty around future production.

Robusta London Graph

Looking ahead to August, Brazil remains the market’s primary focus. Drier weather forecasts should allow harvesting to accelerate, and the market should get a clearer view of the second half of the crop. The main risk is that the earlier wet weather has already affected crop quality. Reports of cherries falling from trees before collection have increased concerns about larger screen sizes and fine-cups, contributing to stronger differentials for higher-quality lots. Outside Brazil, attention is shifting to weather patterns across Central America and Asia. With discussion increasing around El Niño conditions, traders will be watching for early signs of dryness that could affect cherry development and influence production prospects for the next harvest cycle.

For now, the market remains caught between two competing forces: expectations of a large Brazilian crop, and limited coffee available for immediate delivery. Until one of these forces becomes more convincing, volatility is likely to remain a defining feature of coffee markets.

CAFÉ SMART

We’re proud to once again support StreetSmart’s CaféSmart campaign, with CaféSmart Day returning on 7^th of August. This national initiative unites cafés across Australia together to raise vital funds for local organisations tackling homelessness, creating powerful impact through small contributions from each cup served.

At Bennetts, CaféSmart Day is an event we look forward to every year. It’s a simple yet powerful opportunity for our community to give back, and we’re committed to standing alongside our café partners in driving that positive change ahead. We encourage everyone to get involved, spread the word, and support this meaningful campaign, one cup at a time!

Ready to make a difference? You can register your roasteries and cafes here!

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT – CELEBRATING COMMUNITY, CONNECTION & COFFEE

From August 3^rd to 16^th, we’re proud to take part in Fairtrade Fortnight, a global campaign that highlights the impacts fairer trade has for farmers and workers around the world.

This year's theme, Look for the Mark, encourage shoppers to recognise and choose Fairtrade-certified products across everyday categories, from coffee and chocolate to tea, bananas, cotton and more. With 2026 marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer, the campaign also creates space to highlight the women behind many of the products we enjoy every day, while raising awareness of the challenges and inequalities they continue to face.

    Fairtrade Producer in Peru                                                                Look for the Mark campaign              

At Bennetts, supporting Fairtrade isn’t just part of what we do, it’s at the heart of who we are. On 13^th of August 4PM – 6PM, we’re teaming up with Fairtrade to host a Fairtrade Fortnight edition of Beans & Banter, exploring the role the certification plays in building more sustainable coffee supply chains and creating positive impact for coffee-growing communities.

The afternoon will feature thoughtful industry insights from Sam Platt of Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand, alongside long-standing supporters; our very own Scott Bennett and customer partner Jasper Coffee, who will share why they choose to partner with Fairtrade and the difference every purchase can make for coffee producers. Expect a relaxed networking afternoon with coffee-inspired cocktails, snacks and refreshments, and a fun quiz with prizes to win!

This event is an opportunity to connect with industry peers, share ideas, and reflect on how we can collectively contribute to the future of ethical sourcing. We look forward to welcoming you to what will be an engaging and insightful afternoon. Reserve your ticket here!

Mitchell Ricky Eno in the forests of PNG

In Memory of Mitchell Ricky Eno

As we prepare to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, we also pause to honour the life and legacy of Mitchell Ricky Eno, a deeply respected leader within the Papua New Guinea coffee community and the broader Fairtrade community.

Many of our partners and peers will remember Mitchell from visits to PNG or industry events here in Melbourne. Through his work with Coffee Connections and the Highland Organic Agriculture Cooperative (HOAC), and as a Board member for NAPP, Mitchell was a passionate advocate for farmers and a strong voice for coffee-growing communities across the Pacific.

Mitchell brought not only extensive technical knowledge of coffee and trade, but also an unwavering commitment to the people behind it. He was generous with his time, thoughtful in his leadership, and driven by a genuine belief in a better future for farming communities. His dedication to strengthening relationships between producers and buyers left a lasting impact on countless individuals throughout the industry.

Mitchell will be greatly missed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. His legacy lives on in the relationships he built and the communities he championed.

To learn more about Mitchell’s story, as well as the work and communities he so passionately supported, we invite you to watch this video.

BEANS & BANTER RECAP

Another successful event in the books!

Our July Beans & Banter - Costa Rica edition was fantastic. A couple of weeks ago, we welcomed a full room of coffee enthusiasts coming to taste and learn about the Costa Rica coffee sector. Georgia and Julian took us through the industry’s background, the inner workings of its supply chain, and the deep appreciation the local had towards their ecosystem biodiversity.

We also learnt about the history and operations behind two cooperatives ASOPROAAA and CoopeTarrazu, as well as two successful family-run micro mills; Café Solis & Cordero and Las Lajas.

Julian and Georgia delivering a presentation about Costa Rica

Before the cupping began, we received a heartfelt video message from Ivan Solis’s family, celebrating their outstanding achievement at this year’s Cup of Excellence: 1^st place in the Washed category, 3^rd place in the Honey-Natural category, and 7^th place in Experimental category. Hearing directly from the producers and tasting their beautiful “fruits of labour” made it a truly special afternoon. We hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did!

Cupping our Costa Rican microlots – landing in September!

Thank you to everyone who joined us! We can't wait to see you at the next one, as our Fairtrade Fortnight event promises to be just as inspiring and meaningful.

COMMUNITY COFFEE CHAMPIONSHIPS

To finish, we would like to congratulate Harry and Jason on their participation in the Community Coffee Championships over the weekend. Harry took to the stage in the Brewers Cup, while Jason contributed his expertise as a judge.  We are proud to see our team actively contributing to the coffee community and embodying three of Bennetts’s core principles: Excellence, Innovation, and Education.

A special thank you to the event organisers for bringing the industry together, and creating valuable opportunities for learning, connection and growth. We look forward to the next events!

Harry (on TV!) during his Brewers Cup performance