Support for Roasters, Support for Producers
We’ve all been affected by current global events in some way or another, and we have seen it have an unprecedented affect on our industry as a whole.
Having first opened our doors in 1996, this is the first time that Mercanta has seen anything that has affected the world to this degree, it’s a scary time for many of us. As we try to carry on as normal, albeit from our collective pop-up home offices, these are turbulent times and we’re unsure what the future may hold. For now, we want to give as much support to our Roasters and Producers as we can, trying to hold together our link in the coffee supply chain.
Many of our Roasting clients have been hit extremely hard over the last few months. Having seen a steep decline in sales, many are solely reliant on online “home” orders. A few have shut up shop completely. Not only is the lack of demand for roasted coffee having a severe consequence for coffee shops and roasters, the lack of demand is having a cascading effect up the chain, and our producers at origin are now being affected.
This pandemic has affected the entirety of the coffee supply chain, from farm to cup, and this is where we need your help. As coffee consumers, we all have a link in the chain, and we need you to help keep it together.
Please join us in our mission, by supporting local coffee businesses,to help provide support to our producers at origin, and everyone in the Mercanta supply chain.
A few ideas to #supportyourroaster:
- The obvious, buy coffee. Keep your supply topped up by getting beans online from your favourite Roaster. Most Roasters normally provide the option of pre-grinding coffee beans, if you don’t have the means to grind your coffee at home, they can provide you with the perfect grind size for your home brewing kit. Don’t forget, a lot of specialty coffee roasters also do Pods, so those coffee pod drinkers out there, don’t feel left out, local roasters have your back! One of our favourite’s is from Colonna Coffee, who do a great range of capsules online.
- Get creative. Get creative, dust off that old brewing equipment and play around with recipes and brewing methods. When else are we going to get this much time to just play with coffee and finally crack that perfect brew! Share on your social media, let us know what coffee you’re drinking and how you brewed it. If you want a bit of guidance, youtube is full of helpful tutorials for how to brew coffee at home, with a variety of brewing equipment. You can even find brewing guides on many roasters websites, here’s a few we recommend: Hasbean and Dark Woods. If you don’t have the means to buy coffee right now, then maybe just share a post from your favourite roaster on your feed, let others know what these amazing local businesses are doing.
- Treat yo’self or treat someone else (if you’re feeling generous). Now’s the time to grab that piece of brewing equipment you always wanted, some roasters have even put together the perfect “stay at home” bundles with everything you need for your home brewing kit. Future gift planning, you could support your favourite coffee shop/roaster by getting a few gift cards, giving them some extra support in these difficult times, and brightening someone’s day for use later down the line.
- We’re in this together. Now that most of us can’t physically go to our favourite café, it doesn’t mean we can’t go to a virtual one! Get a brew from your favourite barista (i.e. you), and hang out online with some mates or family members. If you’re working from home, you can use these coffee breaks as the perfect time to catch up with colleagues or hold meetings. It’s important to stick together over the new few months and the best excuse to do that is by sharing a brew together.
Brew up & stay safe!
#supportyourroaster