Coffee Types & Grading
Commodity Coffee
Coffee traded on futures exchanges (ICE) as an undifferentiated bulk product, typically scoring below 80 on the SCA scale. Commodity coffee prioritizes volume and price over traceability and nuanced flavor.
Mendalam
The C-market price for Arabica commodity coffee fluctuates based on global supply and demand, weather events, and speculative trading. Most instant coffee, grocery-store blends, and large-chain espresso are made from commodity-grade beans. The price disconnect between C-market and specialty markets drives the economic case for farmers to invest in quality improvements.