Crema Press' January, 2010

Coffee bean prices are set to rise after what was deemed the worst harvest in 35 years by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO). Both Colombia and Brazil, the world’s leading coffee producing countries, have experienced a poor crop in the last year.

In Colombia, this year’s harvest was the worst since 1974, due to bad weather, and was the third straight off-year. The ICO predicts that the coffee for the next crop year, beginning September 30, could fall well short of the 9.5 million bags predicted.

Bloomberg news reported that the price of coffee has already increased in New York and there are speculations of a similar effect to the global coffee market. “Premiums are bound to increase,” ICO Executive Director Nestor Osorio told Bloomberg on Friday.

With the start of 2010 upon us it is the time when everyone wants to make changes and New Year’s resolutions.

Instead of the usual self centred promises that we never keep like “I will join a gym” or “I will take better care of my finances”, why not think about making smaller changes that will have a big impact on those around you, such as your work colleagues and customers?