Morning coffee is an essential part of many people’s daily routine.
In Hong Kong’s high-stakes food and beverage scene, coffee is a key revenue driver; in 2024 alone, the city imported US$92.3 million worth of beans to keep its bustling cafes and hotel lobbies humming.
Yet beneath the steam and foam lies a sprawling, interconnected global supply chain.
Before that cup of coffee ever reaches a patron’s lips, it has passed through a global web of traders, roasters and logistics operators.
But for Christian Hackenberg, a Switzerland-based coffee buyer for Starbucks, the real challenge is not the logistics, but managing the relationships that ensure the supply never runs dry.
