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Blog: The Source

Your gateway to all things green coffee buying, selling, and coffee markets. Education, real stories, and market updates to help roasters and producers build true direct trade relationships.

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Want to dive into direct trade?  Get across green buying and selling? You’re in the right place.

Origin news

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We’re shipping Centrals early. Here’s everything you need to know

Central America’s coffee harvest is another casualty of the weather crisis. Buyers are circling like sharks, and producers are calling it what it is: war. Here’s the full season breakdown and why quick decisions matter. 

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Ethiopia is ahead of schedule—and so should your green buying be

We’re optimistic about logistics and quality, but demand will be strong for the second year in a row and the harvest is already wrapping up. Here’s what you need to know to plan ahead. And: what are the new laws that will transform the coffee sector next season.

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All eyes on Honduras after Ethiopian delays and Peru defaults

Honduras is already exporting more coffee than last year. Production may be down slightly, but there’s no talk of shortages. However, roasters should pay close attention to whom they source from. Let’s unpack the Honduran financing landscape and its wave of effects across the sector.

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“I don’t grow coffee in NY”: Ugandan producers on prices and the new crop

Uganda’s Arabica harvest is here, though volumes are down thanks to unpredictable weather. Local exporters are going head-to-head with big traders, supporting farmers with skills and resources. Learn how Uganda’s pricing dynamics impact sustainable sourcing.

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Green buying and roastery

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What the C?!? The C-market explained

A primer on the C-market, demystifying its terms, jargon, and operations. As market volatility persists, understanding how it operates is more important than ever. For green buyers, navigating price swings and supply uncertainties means making informed decisions rather than waiting on the sidelines.

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Sourcing Brazil for blends & espresso? Up your skills with this green grading guide

Sourcing Brazil for blends & espresso? Up your skills with this green grading guide

Struggling to find a volume coffee from Brazil that fits your budget? You’re not the only one. Learn about how coffee is graded in this origin and discover what options you have to source a good lot at a price that works for you and the producer.

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Coffee prices are high. Should I contract now or wait?

Coffee prices are high. Should I contract now or wait?

Arabica futures have risen since November 2023, hitting lockdown levels and leaving buyers at a standstill. But origins like Brazil and Peru are in season and waiting might be a bad call. Let’s explore what’s happening in the market and the solutions to help you secure supply.

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How to make sense of FOB prices for better buying decisions

How to make sense of FOB prices for better buying decisions

FOB is the standard for coffee contracts but it doesn’t tell you how much farmers get paid. Yet, farm gate prices are not always available to begin with. Yes, it’s tricky. We explain why FOB is the norm and how you can use it to make the right sourcing choices.   

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Featured resources

Direct sourcing 2025-26 calendar for green buyers

Your 18-month guide to shipments and arrivals, helping you plan ahead and enjoy the unique benefits of working directly with producers.

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Our impact: 2023 progress update

Producers are getting more business and premiums, while new roasters are sourcing more coffee than ever with confidence. Learn about Algrano’s impact, pre-financing, data sharing with producers, and what's beyond relationship coffee. 

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Bell Lane and Fazenda Canta Galo

The roastery used Algrano’s services to build a key producer relationship. Why? So they have the right tools for value-based sales and can keep customers loyal without fighting price wars.
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Sourcing coffee beyond cooperatives in Colombia with La Casiana

Transitioning from local sales to the international market can seem impossible to small and medium producers, yet they are the best partners for roasters of a similar size. Learn how farmer Esteban Uribe is driving change within his family to embrace the global arena.

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He's a non-certified organic experimental farmer. They call him madman

Meet Igork Chavez of Mancile Cafe, an agronomist, self-taught specialist in processing with a love for sustainability. According to his workers, this makes him a madman. But is he really? His samples have travelled all the way from the mountains of Cordillera de Montecillos in Honduras to Switzerland and are available to order now (but not for long, so act fast)!

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A new-gen mill putting coffee farmers first in Nicaragua

Sajonia Estate Coffee is offering a range of single-farm coffees on the marketplace for the first time this year. The mill embraces a service-provider approach, still rare among aggregators, and puts farmers on top of their priority list.

Get samples now!

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Better pricing for sustainable coffee? Here are some examples

The coffee industry is a breeding ground for ideas on how to tackle supply chain inequalities. Learn about initiatives and pricing models developed to answer the million-dollar question: how can we set prices that support a more sustainable coffee production?

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The journey of two fine robustas from the Scotland of India to Algran

Venkids Valley Estate is one of the new producers onboarded by Algrano. Learn how farmer Pavan Nanjappa prepared for his debut in our marketplace and taste his fine robusta, now available to order in small volumes. This is an opportunity for roasters to try one of today’s big coffee trends, which is likely here to stay.

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Algrano Market Trends Report 2022

The report highlights the stabilising effect of long-term relationships on coffee supply and prices with more than 60% of surveyed coffee roasters and producers wanting to invest more in direct trade practices in 2022.

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Why this Honduran co-op is using a micro-lot process on large blends

Cafesmo, in Ocotepeque, hosted an intensive course with fermentation specialist Lucia Solis this February. Instead of only learning how to produce 88+ micro-lots, they want to push the quality of their standard blends and make specialty a strategy that can be scaled up to benefit the entire community.

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Doga Coffee: new generation stays at the farm to build relationships

Third generation Costa-Rican coffee producer Facundo Madrigal is bringing samples to Europe for the first time this March! Graduated in International Business, the 24-year-old is in charge of exporting for the family and has one thing in mind: building direct relationships with roasters.

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Moving from spot coffee to forward buying? Two roasters share their know-how

Spot coffee is convenient. We get it. But forward-buying can help you scale the roastery with a consistent offer. We’ll explain why and share advice from two seasoned roasters: Plot Roasting in the UK and Coffee Architects in Switzerland. 

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