The steam of the coffee

(Sunday Poetry Corner) Sipping a coffee slowly, relaxed, letting our thoughts soar freely… is a practice we should do more often. As a poet, that moment feels magical, and the wisps of steam rising through the air speak to us in that language that needs no words, only a receptive mind willing to “feel” and listen…
 
THE STEAM OF THE COFFEE
 
The steam of the coffee traces
with its strokes through the air
those poems
that you or I will be able
to capture on paper,
leaving them as immutable
witnesses
of a feeling
that rises above
time.
 
I take the pencil and paper
like the painter
who sketches freehand,
fingers loose,
letting the heart
express
the thoughts.
 
The thermos and your cup
of coffee
release their aroma into the air
beside the keyboard
of your PC.
You look to the sky,
and after a pause,
you, too, begin
to write.
 
Two distant poets
meet now.
The coffee has awakened
the desire to convey
the intangible mysteries
that float through space,
unformed feelings
that the aroma of a coffee
has come
to stir awake.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

Why has the price of Coffee risen so much?

Suddenly, in just a few weeks, the retail price of coffee (both whole bean and ground) has risen dramatically. What's the reason? In reality, there isn't just one reason but a combination of several:

Adverse Weather Conditions in Producer Countries: Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, has experienced one of the worst droughts in decades, significantly impacting Arabica coffee production. Meanwhile, Vietnam, the leading producer of robusta coffee, has been hit by severe typhoons, reducing its export capacity.

Increase in Global Demand: The demand for coffee continues to rise, particularly in emerging markets like China, where imports have grown exponentially in recent years.

Logistical and Geopolitical Issues: Problems in shipping routes, such as disruptions in the Red Sea, have forced ships to be rerouted, increasing transportation costs. Additionally, the strength of the dollar has raised the cost of coffee imports for countries with weaker currencies.

Speculation and Market Adjustments: Coffee roasters and traders are buying earlier and in larger volumes, fearing future shortages, which artificially drives up prices.

European Regulations: To top it off, the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation has added pressure on prices. This regulation requires that imported products, including coffee, do not come from recently deforested areas, leading traders to increase their reserves in anticipation of possible future restrictions.
 
This issue of rising coffee prices not only affects Spain but also other European countries. In Germany, for example, there has been a significant increase in retail prices for both ground and whole bean coffee; this trend is reflected in other major coffee markets in Europe due to the aforementioned factors that globally affect supply and demand.
 
In summary, adverse weather conditions impacting production, commercial policies preparing for periods of scarcity, geopolitical issues disrupting normal goods transport, and stringent and overreaching environmental legislation are all closely interrelated in influencing coffee prices in the European market.
 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI