Hi folks! If you're not already aware, we've had a huge increase in interest due to some videos posted recently by coffee expert and YouTuber Lance Hedrick. We've been working hard to make coffee available to new customers and existing customers, and we're adjusting our inventory levels to accommodate this increased interest. However, since the coffee is roasted to order and then shipped from Italy, these adjustments will take some time to figure out.
Of course we always want the coffee to be as fresh as possible, so it's important that we order the right amount of coffee such that it's not sitting on the shelves for months. Please bear with us while we work out the correct frequency and quantity of coffee that we stock. The goal is to have enough coffee on the shelves that you can order anytime without having to scramble to place an order once a new batch arrives. I know this can be a frustrating experience, and I'm working hard to alleviate this situation.
Also, you may have noticed that we recently raised prices about 3% across the board. This is to help offset some of the additional shipping costs that we're incurring as a result of switching to DHL air freight shipping. This switch was necessitated because UPS has consistently been dropping the ball on our shipments with delays exceeding 2 weeks for no apparent reason. Switching to DHL air freight is getting the coffee to us 1-2 weeks quicker, which means we can continue to maintain the freshest coffee possible.
On the subject of pricing, we've been informed by Saka recently that the cost of Brazilian coffee (a major constituent of most blends) has increased significantly in recent weeks. This will result in additional small price increases in future batches.
As a price sensitive shopper myself, I'm always trying to keep our prices and shipping costs as low as possible in order to make this coffee affordable. However, unlike most coffee suppliers, we have enormous additional costs due to air freight, customs brokerage and other import fees, and we have to build these costs into the price of the coffee. We also have to account for daily fluctuations in the USD / Euro conversion rate. As a result, our prices may go up and down to accommodate these fluctuations. We operate on very slim margins, so we can't absorb these fluctuations without making adjustments.
If you're looking for the best value, I recommend ordering larger amounts at one time and freezing any coffee that you can't drink in 2-3 weeks. This way your shipping costs will be much less per kilo. Mason jars work great for this -- just make sure to let them fully defrost overnight before opening the jars (this avoids condensation).
I hope 2025 is treating you well, and all the best from Cantina Coffee!
-Matt