294: QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Aprit, 1899. 
COFFEE IN 1898. 
Tux year just closed has been more remarkable for the cheapness and abund- 
ance of the commoner descriptions of coffee than for anything else connected 
with the trade; and there can be no doubt that, under these most favourable 
circumstances for carrying on the business, the dealers and others have been 
enabled to secure better profits out of their sales than have been netted for 
many seasons past. The primary cause of this descent from comparative 
scarcity and highly-inflated prices to the present conditions governing the 
article has been, as is well known, the great plethora of supplies from the 
Brazils, as forescen years ago, when the 1897-98 coffee crops of Santos, Rio, 
&ec., first began to be talked of as yielding about 10,000,000 bags. Few 
persons, at the time, could be brought to believe in so extraordinary a develop- 
ment in the production of one class of coffee; and those who confessed to 
having strong “ bullish” predilections were loth to entertain the idea of such a 
possibility, knowing that, if realised, it must bring with it something bordering 
on a transformation of the whole of this branch of commercial enterprise, 
Yet we find that what seemed, at the outset, to be exaggerated statements and 
far-fetched expectations have been fulfilled to the letter; and that with an 
almost interminable glut of supply coming forward from a single source, within 
the 12 months dating from Ist July, 1897, to 30th June, 1898, there has been 
weighing on the European markets an excessiveness of stocks far surpassing in 
magnitude any that have ever before been warehoused in the various ports. 
These at the close of November last contained an aggregate of 223,000 tons, 
in striking contrast with 158,000 tons in 1897, about 88,000 tons in 1896, over 
92,000 tons in 1895, and nearly 65,000 tons in 1894. It is not hazarding too 
bold an assertion to say that the buik of the above 223,000 tons of coffee on 
hand was composed of itiferior growths, which have always been more or less 
difficult to realise, and have consequently been the means ot forcing prices down 
to amazingly low points,and of thus widening the gaps between quotations for the 
commonest and finest qualities. The great difference in the value of coffee, created 
so unexpectedly, has been the distinguishing feature of the year 1598, and has 
been preserved from the beginning to the end of the season. To emphasise the 
facts we state, it may not be out of place here to remark that, grouping the several 
kinds of coffee together, as if all came under the same denomination, the general 
range of prices, as latterly established for landed parcels, is as follows :—Low to 
good ordinary, including mixed sorts, at 25s. to 45s.; fine ordinary to low 
middling at 48s. to 64s.; middling greenish to fine middling at 66s. to 90s.; bright 
coloury and bold at 96s. to 120s. per ewt. Within this list of quotations are to 
be found raw coffee beans of every variety of size, make, and colour, adapted to 
the wants and fancies of the most fastidious of home dealers and exporters; and, 
putting all the clearances together, it is fair to assume that larger quantities 
than formerly have been used and distributed over the Continent of Europe 
during the year now departed. The unusual disproportion between the extent 
of the assortment of the lower and the finer grades of unroasted coffee, which 
has existed throughout the season, has led to extremely stiff prices being paid 
for all desirable descriptions, which in the flattest of markets have met with 
ready purchasers at the highest rates of the day. From what may be judged to 
the contrary, there is no valid reason to look for any modifications of the wide 
distinctions in value above noticed, as coffee imported in the near future will 
prebably continue to be characteristically the same as hitherto, so as to keep 
the selection as narrow as ever for the superior grades; and those who are 
anxious to lay in sufficient stocks of plantation and similar coffees must be pre- 
pared to do so promptly as soon as they arrive, and also be content to pay the 
maximum currency of the market. What are really wanted are liberal arrivals 
of useful medium sorts ranging from 5s. to 75s. per cwt. in their “ green” 
state, which would be of immense service in helping the blenders to furnish con- 
sumers with a good wholesome beverage at a moderate figure, and at the same 
time ensure them a constant supply of this aromatic article without its patrons 
having to forsake it for some other form of non-alcoholic drink. — Grocer. 
