THE BENNETTS MONTHLY OCTOBER '26
All Things Bennetts and Coffee...
On October 1st, coffee lovers around the world celebrated International Coffee Day, a global occasion dedicated to recognising one of the world's most enjoyed beverages and the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on it. Established by the International Coffee Organisation, the day serves as a reminder that every cup of coffee represents the hard work, skill and dedication of growers, producers, exporters, roasters and baristas across the globe.
What many coffee drinkers may not realise is that October 1st also marked the beginning of the global Coffee Year, often referred to within the industry as the "Coffee New Year". The international coffee sector measures production, exports and trade statistics from 1st October through to 30th September, making the date a symbolic fresh start for coffee growing regions and coffee businesses worldwide.
As the industry welcomed a new coffee year, the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey behind every cup. From farming communities in coffee producing regions to local cafés and workplaces, coffee continues to connect people, cultures and communities across continents. It remains not only a daily ritual enjoyed by millions, but also one of the world's most important agricultural commodities and a vital source of income for coffee growing families.
While International Coffee Day has now passed for another year, its message remains just as relevant. Taking a moment to appreciate the story behind our daily coffee helps recognise the people, partnerships and traditions that make each cup possible. As we move into a new coffee year, we look forward to celebrating another season of innovation, quality and connection throughout the global coffee community.
Happy Coffee New Year to all coffee lovers and industry partners alike!
MARKET REPORT If any of these terms in the market report are confusing, we urge you to use Investopedia to make sense of them. We have found it to be a brilliant tool when learning about all things trading, futures and currency.
After the heightened volatility seen at the end of August, coffee markets settled considerably during September, with prices returning to the trading ranges that have characterised a decent portion of the year.
Arabica NY C Graph
Arabica opened September at 313.45usc/lb and immediately posted its monthly high in the first 10 minutes of trading at 315.55usc/lb. From there, prices steadily eased lower throughout the month, eventually reaching a low of 269.75usc/lb on the 23rd of the month. The decline was gradual rather than dramatic, reflecting a market searching for direction rather than reacting to any major new development. Support emerged around the 270usc/lb level, allowing prices to recover into month-end. Arabica ultimately closed September at 289.90usc/lb, remaining within the broader 270-300usc/lb range that has contained much of the market's trading activity between February and May of this year. While the market has found stability, the next major directional move remains uncertain.
Robusta traded slightly choppier throughout the month of September, although in a tighter range than that of Arabica. Opening the month at 3,542USD/MT, Robusta saw some relief early in the month before retracing to month highs of 3,601USD/MT. Resistance at 3,600USD/MT was clear and the market slipped away over the coming couple of weeks to a low of 3,218USD/MT on the 23rd of the month before closing at 3,448USD/MT.
Robusta London Graph
September brought generally favourable conditions across Brazil, with flowering activity supporting expectations for the upcoming 2027/28 crop. While rainfall remained relatively consistent, attention is increasingly turning toward the potential development of El Niño conditions. Forecasts remain mixed regarding the extent to which El Niño may affect southern Brazil. At this stage, there are more questions than answers, and the market will be closely monitoring weather developments over the coming months as the crop progresses.
Outside Brazil, several Central American producing countries have experienced periods of below-average rainfall. The impact varies from region to region, but uncertainty surrounding production potential has caused some exporters and producers to take a cautious approach when committing sales for the 2027 crop. Meanwhile, Vietnam is preparing to begin harvest in the coming weeks, with early indications pointing to another strong production year.
One of the most important market indicators continues to be the level of certified Arabica stocks held within the ICE exchange system. Although inventories remain historically low, recent weeks have seen several Brazilian lots submitted for grading, with a healthy proportion successfully meeting certification requirements. This has increased market attention on whether additional volumes will enter the certification pipeline. The coming weeks could be significant. If large quantities of coffee continue to achieve certification, additional supply may help reduce some of the tightness that has supported nearby prices. Conversely, if arrivals remain limited, the market could continue to place a premium on immediate availability.
While coffee prices have returned to a more stable trading range, uncertainty around future supply means the market is unlikely to remain complacent for long. The next major move may depend less on current crop availability and more on expectations for production during the next harvest cycle.
BENNETTS BEANIE BABIES At Bennett's, we're experts in all thing’s beans, but recently we've welcomed a couple of particularly adorable new ones into the extended Bennett family! Congratulations to Diego (our Account Manager) who recently became a proud new father, welcoming a beautiful new "beanie baby" into the world. We're also thrilled for Heidi (our long-standing Despatch Coordinator) who has earned the highly coveted promotion to Grandmother, following the arrival of a precious new grandson. While our coffee beans keep the business running, these little beans are sure to keep their families busy for years to come. We wish both families many sleepless nights, countless cuddles, and an abundance of joy as they enjoy this special chapter.
Our Beanie Babies
CUP FOR COLOMBIA AUCTION What a week it’s been!
Together with Lohas Beans and Axil Coffee, we organised a series of fundraising auction events to support communities affected by the recent and devastating earthquake in Colombia. Over three incredible evenings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, the coffee community came together for our ‘Cup for Colombia’ events. We welcomed rooms full of coffee enthusiasts to cup an outstanding lineup of coffee sourced by Lohas Beans, showcasing the diversity, quality and innovation coming out of Colombia today. The presentation delivered by Georgia (our Quality Manager) was equally meaningful, highlighting both the impact of the earthquake and the importance of supporting those who are in need. Around the cupping table - Cupping for Colombia Sydney
Then came the auction.
At each event, the room quickly came alive as bidders competed for the exclusive 12kg Special Selection La Maria, Geisha Natural. The bidding was spirited, the energy was contagious, and it was fantastic to see so many people getting behind the cause. More than a few guests told us afterwards, they would love to attend more events like this, which was wonderful feedback to hear.
Georgia and Matt (Axil), our excellent auction hosts
Congratulations to our winning bidders! Melbourne: Mohamed Akbarally from Akbar Brothers Pvt Ltd Sydney: Samuel Lee from Lepine Coffee Brisbane: Eddie Cho from The Hideout Specialty Coffee
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, donated, bid, shared the event, or helped make it happen. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we raised a total of AUD$10,440 through our coffee auctions to support the Colombia, Un Solo Corazón ("Colombia, One Heart") earthquake recovery campaign. It was a powerful reminder of the connections that exist throughout the global coffee chain. If you'd still like to get involved, the fundraising efforts are ongoing, with "Cup for Colombia Drip bags" available for purchase through Axil's website.
Missed out on the auction lot? There is still time to secure some exceptional Colombian coffees! The lineup of Lohas Beans coffees is on their way, expecting to arrive early 2027, with limited availability. Get in touch with your Account Manager today to secure your lot before it's gone.
OCTOBER BEANS & BANTER – EXPLORING BRAZIL WITH BENNETTS Last month, Tom Bennett spent two weeks travelling around southern region of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, Brazil, meeting with long-term export partners and many like-minded people across the coffee industry. The trip offered valuable first-hand insight into current crop conditions, producer behaviour, quality trends and the outlook for both Arabica and Conilon markets for the coming year.
Heading into the 2026/2027 harvest, which began in late May, many market participants believed it could become the largest crop in Brazil’s history. Although the crop is still unquestionably large, several factors prevented it from reaching its full record-breaking potential. Overall, the message from origin is constructive: coffee is available, but producer selling remains restrained, higher-quality coffees continue to command firm prices, and weather will be the key market driver as attention turns to the 2027/2028 crop.
If you'd like to learn more about Brazilian coffee, join us for our October Beans and Banter. Tom, together with our Account Manager from Brazil, Diego, will share insights into the history of coffee in Brazil and the unique production style behind the world’s biggest Arabica producer. Following the presentation, we will then cup a range of coffees that highlight the diversity of Brazilian coffee across different grades and quality levels. Be prepared, there will be a tasting and knowledge quiz at the end of the session. Come along to slurp, learn, and perhaps take away a prize or two!
The event will be hosted on Thursday, 29th October, 3:30PM-5PM at our Kew HQ. Please register your free spot here.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back at our office!
UPDATE TO BENNETTS PAYMENT OPTIONS We would like to advise of a change to our payment options, effective immediately. Following recent changes to Australian card payment regulations, Bennetts has reviewed its payment arrangements to ensure we continue to provide customers with simple, flexible and cost-effective ways to pay. What is changing? The existing Visa and Mastercard payment link via NAB Transact has been discontinued from 1st October 2026. What is not changing? Customers will continue to have access to a range of payment options, including: - EFT / Bank Transfer - BPAY - American Express (existing arrangements remain unchanged - on 08/07/2026 AMEX renamed the merchant fee from Surcharge Fee to Supplier Fee) Importantly, customers who currently use Visa or Mastercard will still be able to make payments via BPAY using their credit card, subject to their financial institution's capabilities and terms. Why are we making this change? The change allows Bennetts to simplify its payment processes while continuing to offer flexible payment options and maintain competitive product pricing. If you currently use our Visa or Mastercard payment link and would like assistance identifying the most suitable payment option going forward, please contact our team who will be happy to assist.
Thank you for your continued support. |
