Coffee consumption has doubled

Coffee consumption has doubled in 20 years
Many people like to drink a coffee to wake up. The "watchmaker" is appreciated around the world. Hardly surprising that consumption has doubled within the last 20 years. Experts from the International Coffee Organization (ICO) predict that coffee consumption will continue to increase in the future.
Worldwide, coffee consumption has doubled in twenty years. (Image: amenic181 / fotolia.com)

For years, the demand for coffee has increased, according to Robeiro Oliveira, head of the ICO, to the news agency "AFP". Demand remains high in traditional markets such as Canada, Europe, Japan, Norway and the US. But the ICO sees the greatest potential in new, growing markets. People in Algeria, Russia, Australia and South Korea are consuming more and more coffee, thus increasing sales worldwide. In addition, the world's population continues to grow and more and more people are enjoying coffee, according to Robeiro Oliveira.

Environmental influences affect coffee production
Statistics from the ICO show that it is not easy to satisfy this huge demand. Global coffee production in 2014 decreased by 3.5 percent year-on-year. Because growing coffee depends on many different factors. Heavy rains, dryness and rust disease affect coffee bushes worldwide. Thus, accurate forecasts for the development of production are difficult to make.

Price at record low despite rising demand
Demand for coffee has risen steadily in recent years. Nevertheless, the coffee price is currently at its lowest level in twenty months. However, the growing consumption and the current low supply will probably lead to the selling price rising quickly again.

Production has risen massively in the last twenty years
The production of green coffee has increased significantly in recent years. In 2001, about 108 million bags of coffee were produced. By comparison, there were already about 142 million bags in 2014. Every single bag contains 60 kilograms of green coffee. In 2014, demand was already well above the amount of coffee produced.

Wonder drug coffee and its positive properties
Coffee is popular not only for its taste or its stimulating properties. In recent studies, the hot drink is mainly attributed positive characteristics. For example, studies show that coffee reduces the risk of recurrence in colorectal cancer, relieves stress symptoms and can also help with potency problems. Last but not least, coffee should even protect the genetic material.

Possible negative aspects
That coffee dries out the body is a common misconception. It has been found that the drink does not deprive the body of water. The awake-maker is to be regarded as a normal liquid dispenser. But coffee also has negative properties. So a study found that coffee confuses the human biorhythm and sets our internal clock back.

Germany seventh at coffee consumption
Since 1963 the ICO supervises the worldwide coffee market. The international coffee organization belongs to most exporting and importing countries. Germany is also a member. In Germany, an average coffee drinker consumes about 7.1 kilograms of green coffee a year. This puts the Germans in seventh place in the world's coffee consumption. However, countries such as Switzerland, Norway or Sweden consume even more coffee per year.