As a crazed coffee fan, I sure hope not! But the truth of the matter is that there are many effects of the current economy, and it even has trickled down to our beloved Java.
There were reports in the news of rises in international Java prices, which caused a problem for distributors of beans who buy and sell directly.
There is also the factor of Fair Trade organizations, which is a completely good regulation on the Java industry because it ensures that all of the workers are being paid fairly during the bean harvests at a guaranteed and set wage.
If these same Java farmers are being pre-financed, that means that the price of their coffee is already set before it is harvested.
This also means that if the price of their beans is already predetermined, then the economic effects on the prices of Java really won't have anything to do with them.
Right now, there is still a struggle for premium beans being produced because of many climate changes in various harvesting regions where the beans were once cultivated in optimal conditions.
Along the lines of other economic issues, fuel and fertilizer prices are going up, which of course directly affects the overhead of the crops and the price of a cup of Joe.
Now that there are many regulations involved with producing high quality beans, such as Fair Trade, Organic, and Shade Grown, there are also additional prices to be added on to the total cost of the crop for paying for certifications for the beans.
To date, there are more and more countries popping up that are beginning to produce Java, so there is much more competition to be had between harvesters.
One of the many explanations for the mass amounts of harvesters coming into play is that numerous farms are actually run by small families who can support themselves by making a modest income from harvesting beans on their own.
Nonetheless, in the market, coffee and sugar prices are continuing to rise, with sugar being at the highest price that it's been in several years.
This has not deterred Java lovers in any way because they still are paying the price for a cup of Joe, regardless of the cost.
The only major hit would be on the corner cafe, like Starbucks, because it seems that more and more Americans are looking to brewing Java at home.
This is something that I completely advocate since it is so important to hone your own barista skills, and if you consider the cost of paying for a $3 latte everyday for a year, then it would certainly be worth the investment to get a home espresso machine to cut the cost and save yourself time waiting in line at Starbucks.
Even though the rise in coffee prices can be completely discouraging, it is still comforting to know that all drinkers of the brew are relentless in their pursuit for excellence and will not give up or settle on taste and flavor.
Coffee will still triumph!