Robusta beats Arabica.... Bloomberg

Jonty

Robusta is beating arabica for the first time in four years as roasters use more of the cheaper grade and farmers reap fewer beans in Vietnam, the top grower.
While robusta, used in espresso and instant coffee, typically costs less than the arabica used to make specialty drinks by retailers including Starbucks Corp. (SBUX), its discount has narrowed to 74 cents a pound, from 145 cents at the end of 2011. The spread will contract to 55 cents by the end of the year, the lowest since July 2009, as demand increased to a record, the average of 10 trader estimates compiled by Bloomberg shows.
Enlarge image
A worker prepares to grind roasted robusta coffee beans in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photographer: Jeff Holt/Bloomberg
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Roasters used more robusta in their blends to control prices as arabica surged to a 14-year high in May 2011 after the smallest Colombian crop since 1976 and reduced output from top supplier Brazil. Even after falling 26 percent this year, arabica is still more expensive than robusta and is the worst- performing commodity tracked by Bloomberg. Retailers are reluctant to change the taste of products again so soon in the $75.5 billion global market as consumers choose cheaper options.

Brett H

Interesting read.  I love a good quality Robusta as a treat... like a big RED (not Julia Gillard).  Looks like the journo economic scaremongers are out hitting the reading public where it hurts... :coffee2:

beanflying

Interesting on Robusta pricing but seems there is also a little push toward some 'better' quality Robustas into the specialty market too. Upcoming talk in Columbia http://www.coffeestrategies.com/2012/09/11/andrew-hetzel-to-talk-robusta-at-10th-annual-lets-talk-coffee