In the 1970s, the coffee industry faced various challenges and changes. Coffee was mainly seen as a basic commodity, and instant coffee was really popular. However, the industry struggled with fluctuating prices due to supply issues, like poor harvests in major coffee-producing countries. This led to what was called the "coffee crisis," with prices spiking and then dropping unpredictably. Despite these ups and downs, the seeds for the modern specialty coffee movement were being planted during this time, especially in the U.S., where people slowly started caring more about coffee quality and the experience of drinking it.
In 1971 Malkönig successfully acquired the property, which had previously only been leased. This marks the company's transition from being a long-term leaseholder to full ownership, securing its future and paving the way for new opportunities.
In the early 1970s, Mahlkönig proudly introduced two coffee grinders that set new standards in precision and reliability: the Kenia and Guatemala (continuing the naming after coffee regions) models.
After a period of recovery, the company has returned to profitability, allowing it to reinvest in modern CNC lathes and transition to using plastics in its manufacturing processes. These strategic investments have led to satisfactory business development in the subsequent years.
The 1970s saw the beginning of the specialty coffee movement. While the term "specialty coffee" wasn't widely used until later, coffee connoisseurs started to focus on higher-quality beans and a more nuanced appreciation of flavor profiles. This period laid the groundwork for what would become a major trend in the following decades.
There was a rising interest in the potential health benefits of coffee. Although the research was still in its early stages, some studies began suggesting that coffee might have positive effects, such as improving mental alertness and even lowering the risk of certain diseases.
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