While the coffee industry is mostly streamlined in the way to make
and grow coffee innovation is still possible. ICafé is always experimenting
with new species and hybrids of coffee. They are able to explore new possible
plants that will have better resistance against rust and other diseases. Coffee
farms are also experimenting with different varieties of coffee to try
producing new coffee blends that they can sell at higher prices. The banana
plantation may not be designing any new processes with how they produce bananas
but they are trying to use natural fertilizers and create their own
fertilizers, which coffee farmers do as well. They also are looking for ways to
recycle the plastic they use, by melting it down and using it again. The
constant attempts at innovation specifically in relation to sustainability, I
have definitely seen how much of a difference these plantations are making. It
also really nice to see the emphasis on sustainability through out the entire
country. All in all, both banana and coffee plantations are figuring out ways
to innovate on products that have pretty concrete processes.
The processing mills for coffee are
finding new ways to use renewable energy to take the coffee beans and get them
ready to be roasted. They are using hydroelectric power and using waste from
other aspects of their plantation in order to generate heat and power that is
sustainable. The processing mills use the wood from the coffee trees and the
parchment from the coffee beans as sources of fuel for their ovens in order to
use any of their waste products they can. Exports are also trying to make sure
that they sell all of their coffee, even if it might be partially under ripe or
not if the highest quality. Someone will be able to use it for some coffee
related product so they work hard not to waste any of their product and
innovate upon it.
Companies like Café Britt are
creating new ways to innovate coffee into different coffee. They are using
coffee beans in chocolate and creating other products related to chocolate
covered fruit and other products. They have also created products that are
paired with a charitable organization to give buyers a good feeling when they
purchase their product. The consumers are able to donate to charity and buy
coffee at the same time. They are also creating coffees that are specifically
come one region or province. This allowed the customers to feel a connection to
the coffee they are buying. Stores are also creating other products that are
related to coffee like mugs and t-shirts. They have created tourist items that
many people buy, so they have expanded upon just producing coffee. They also
sell their coffee in airports so that people will buy it on their way out of
the country. Café Britt has also created espresso machines and coffee pods to
expand on the coffee market. The espresso machine allows people to brew their
own good cup of coffee at home. They are a companies that is expanding upon
coffee and creating other products to build a brand that is not just all about
coffee.
Customers are able to help company
design and improve upon their existing products through providing the coffee
with feedback. Through feedback and customer reviews customers are able to
influence what their favorite brands produce. Some companies also have options
that allow them to suggest new products that the company can produce. Through
reviews and suggestions the customer is able to innovate and design their own
products.