Chapter XVI: Appendix: Table I

Showing tares, style of package and average weight of the principal coffees imported into the United States.

Style Average
of Weight
Kind. Package. Pounds. Tare.
Mocha, Bales, 160 Actual.
Javas, Mats, 66 1 per cent.
India, Bags, 140 2 per cent.
Ceylon, Bags, 140 2 per cent.
Ceylon, Casks, 1,000 Actual.
Jamaica, Bags, 200 2 per cent.
Jamaica, Barrels, 200 Actual.
San Domingo, Bags, 150 2 per cent.
Hayti, Bags, 150 2 per cent.
Mexican, Bales, 150 2 per cent.
Guatemala, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Nicaragua, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Honduras, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Costa Rica, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Caracas, Bags, 130 2 per cent.
Maracaibo, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Laguayra, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Angostura, Bags, 130 Actual.
Colombo, Bags, 230 1 per cent.
Equador, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Bolivian, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Brazilian, Bags, 130 1 per cent.

All other coffees in bags one per cent. and all others in bales and barrels actual tare.

TABLE II.

Showing relative difference between cost of raw and roasted coffees, including cost of roasting (¹⁄₂ cent per pound), and loss by shrinkage (15 per cent).

Raw. Roasted.
10 12 35
10¹⁄₄ 12 65
10¹⁄₂ 12 94
10³⁄₄ 13 24
11 13 53
11¹⁄₄ 13 82
11¹⁄₂ 14 12
11³⁄₄ 14 41
12 14 71
12¹⁄₄ 15 00
12¹⁄₂ 15 29
12³⁄₄ 15 59
13 15 88
13¹⁄₄ 16 18
13¹⁄₂ 16 48
13³⁄₄ 16 67
14 17 06
14¹⁄₄ 17 35
14¹⁄₂ 17 67
14³⁄₄ 17 94
15 18 24
15¹⁄₄ 18 53
15¹⁄₂ 18 82
15³⁄₄ 19 13
16 19 41
16¹⁄₄ 19 71
16¹⁄₂ 20 00
16³⁄₄ 20 30
17 20 59
17¹⁄₄ 20 89
17³⁄₄ 21 47
18 21 76
18¹⁄₄ 22 06
18¹⁄₂ 22 35
18³⁄₄ 22 64
19 22 93
19¹⁄₄ 23 22
19¹⁄₂ 23 52
19³⁄₄ 23 82
20 24 41
20¹⁄₄ 24 41
20¹⁄₂ 24 71
20³⁄₄ 25 00
21 25 30
21¹⁄₄ 25 59
21¹⁄₂ 25 88
21³⁄₄ 26 19
22 26 47
22¹⁄₄ 26 76
22¹⁄₂ 27 06
22³⁄₄ 27 35
23 27 64
23¹⁄₄ 27 94
23¹⁄₂ 28 24
23³⁄₄ 28 53
24 28 82
24¹⁄₄ 29 12
24¹⁄₂ 29 42
24³⁄₄ 29 71
25 30 00

For each one-eighth of a cent Raw add one-fifteenth Roasted.

TABLE III.

Showing comparative loss in roasting coffee between Winter and Summer months of the principal coffees:--

Months. Rio. Java. Mocha. Maracaibo.
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
January, 14 16 15 16
February, 14 16 15 16
March, 14 16 15 16
June, 13 15 14 15
July, 13 15 14 15
August, 13 15 14 15

From which it may be noted that Rio and Mocha lose on an average one per cent. less than Java and Maracaibo in both seasons, which is accounted for by the greater hardness and solidity of the bean of the former over the latter, which are lighter and softer in texture, the average loss being 15 per cent. on all coffees.

TABLE IV.

Showing comparative weights of Raw and Roasted coffees, after sustaining a loss of from 12 to 16 per cent.:--

Weight raw. Weight roasted.
Net. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
12 13 14 15 16
----------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
50 lbs. 44 43¹⁄₂ 43 42¹⁄₂ 42
55 „ 48¹⁄₂ 48 47¹⁄₄ 46³⁄₄ 46
60 „ 52¹⁄₄ 52 51¹⁄₂ 51 50¹⁄₂
65 „ 57 56¹⁄₂ 56 55¹⁄₄ 54¹⁄₂
70 „ 61¹⁄₂ 61 60 59¹⁄₂ 58³⁄₄
75 „ 66 65¹⁄₄ 64¹⁄₂ 63³⁄₄ 63
80 „ 70¹⁄₂ 69¹⁄₂ 68¹⁄₄ 68 67
85 „ 74³⁄₄ 74 73 72¹⁄₄ 71¹⁄₂
90 „ 79 78³⁄₄ 77¹⁄₂ 76¹⁄₂ 75¹⁄₂
95 „ 83¹⁄₂ 82¹⁄₂ 81¹⁄₂ 80³⁄₄ 79³⁄₄
100 „ 89 87 86 85 84
105 „ 92¹⁄₂ 91¹⁄₂ 90¹⁄₂ 89¹⁄₄ 88
110 „ 96³⁄₄ 95¹⁄₂ 94¹⁄₂ 93¹⁄₂ 91¹⁄₄
115 „ 102 100 99 98 96¹⁄₂
120 „ 105¹⁄₂ 104¹⁄₂ 103 102 101
125 „ 110 108³⁄₄ 107¹⁄₂ 106¹⁄₄ 105
130 „ 114¹⁄₂ 113 112 111 110¹⁄₄
135 „ 118³⁄₄ 117¹⁄₂ 116 114³⁄₄ 113¹⁄₂
140 „ 124 121³⁄₄ 120¹⁄₂ 119 117¹⁄₂
145 „ 127¹⁄₂ 126 124¹⁄₂ 123¹⁄₄ 121³⁄₄
150 „ 131¹⁄₄ 129³⁄₄ 128¹⁄₄ 126³⁄₄ 125¹⁄₄

TABLE V.

Showing cost of Roasted coffee after sustaining a loss of:--

Cost Raw. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
12 13 14 15 16
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
10 11³⁄₈ 11¹⁄₂ 11⁵⁄₈ 11³⁄₄ 11⁷⁄₈
10¹⁄₂ 12 12¹⁄₈ 12¹⁄₄ 12³⁄₈ 12¹⁄₂
11 12¹⁄₂ 12⁵⁄₈ 12³⁄₄ 12⁷⁄₈ 13
11¹⁄₂ 13 13¹⁄₄ 13³⁄₈ 13⁵⁄₈ 13³⁄₄
12 13⁵⁄₈ 13³⁄₄ 14 14¹⁄₈ 14¹⁄₄
12¹⁄₂ 14¹⁄₄ 14³⁄₈ 14¹⁄₂ 14³⁄₄ 14⁷⁄₈
13 14³⁄₄ 15 15¹⁄₈ 15³⁄₈ 15¹⁄₂
13¹⁄₂ 15³⁄₈ 15¹⁄₂ 15⁵⁄₈ 15³⁄₄ 15⁷⁄₈
14 15⁷⁄₈ 16¹⁄₈ 16¹⁄₄ 16¹⁄₂ 16⁵⁄₈
14¹⁄₂ 16¹⁄₂ 16⁵⁄₈ 16⁷⁄₈ 17 17¹⁄₄
15 17 17¹⁄₈ 17³⁄₈ 17⁵⁄₈ 17⁷⁄₈
15¹⁄₂ 17⁵⁄₈ 17⁷⁄₈ 18 18¹⁄₄ 18¹⁄₂
16 18⁷⁄₈ 18³⁄₈ 18⁵⁄₈ 18⁷⁄₈ 19
16¹⁄₂ 18³⁄₄ 19 19¹⁄₈ 19³⁄₈ 19⁵⁄₈
17 19¹⁄₄ 19¹⁄₂ 19³⁄₄ 20 20¹⁄₄
17¹⁄₂ 19⁷⁄₈ 20¹⁄₂ 20³⁄₈ 20⁵⁄₈ 20⁷⁄₈
18 20³⁄₈ 20⁵⁄₈ 20⁷⁄₈ 21¹⁄₈ 21³⁄₈
18¹⁄₂ 21 21¹⁄₄ 21¹⁄₂ 21³⁄₄ 22
19 21⁵⁄₈ 21⁷⁄₈ 22¹⁄₈ 22³⁄₈ 22⁵⁄₈
19¹⁄₂ 22¹⁄₈ 22³⁄₈ 22⁵⁄₈ 23 23¹⁄₄
20 22³⁄₄ 23 23¹⁄₄ 23¹⁄₂ 23³⁄₄
20¹⁄₂ 23¹⁄₄ 23¹⁄₂ 23⁷⁄₈ 24¹⁄₈ 24³⁄₈
21 23³⁄₄ 24 24³⁄₈ 24³⁄₄ 25
21¹⁄₂ 24¹⁄₂ 24³⁄₄ 25 25¹⁄₄ 25⁵⁄₈
22 25 25¹⁄₄ 25⁵⁄₈ 25⁷⁄₈ 26¹⁄₈
22¹⁄₂ 25¹⁄₂ 25⁷⁄₈ 26¹⁄₈ 26¹⁄₂ 26³⁄₄
23 26¹⁄₈ 26³⁄₈ 26³⁄₄ 27 27³⁄₈
23¹⁄₂ 26³⁄₄ 27 27³⁄₈ 27⁵⁄₈ 28
24 27¹⁄₄ 27⁵⁄₈ 27⁷⁄₈ 28¹⁄₂ 28⁷⁄₈
24¹⁄₂ 27⁷⁄₈ 28¹⁄₈ 28¹⁄₂ 28³⁄₄ 29¹⁄₈
25 28³⁄₈ 28³⁄₄ 29¹⁄₈ 29³⁄₈ 29³⁄₄

To which must be added cost of roasting, ¹⁄₂ cent per pound.

TABLE VI.

Showing New York Coffee Exchange point card, and giving decimal value of 5 points to one cent per pound on 250 bags coffee (32,500 pounds), which is the smallest transaction:--

Points. Difference.
05, $16 25
10, 32 50
15, 48 75
20, 65 00
25, 81 25
30, 97 50
35, 113 75
40, 130 00
45, 146 25
50, 162 50
55, 178 75
60, 195 00
65, 211 25
70, 227 50
75, 243 75
80, 260 00
85, 276 25
90, 292 50
95, 308 75
100 (one cent), 325 00
105, 341 25
110, 357 50
115, 373 75
120, 390 10
125, 406 25
130, 432 50
135, 438 75
140, 455 50
145, 471 25
150, 487 50
155, 503 75
160, 520 00
165, 536 25
170, 552 50
175, 568 75
180, 585 00
185, 601 25
190, 617 50
195, 635 75
200 (two cents), 650 50

No. 7 (low ordinary) is adopted as the “standard grade,” and is taken as a basis for all operations, but a grade comparing with any of the ten numbers may be substituted at their approximate values when delivered is insisted on and No. 7 cannot be had. The brokerage for buying and selling is 4 cents per bag, and the original margin $1.00 per bag, the smallest transaction allowed being 250 bags and the market fluctuation ⁵⁄₁₀₀ cents per pound.

TABLE VII.

Showing method for converting Rio and Santos quotations into United States currency, including freight charges at 40 cents and 5 per cent. per bag marine insurance. One month’s charges in New York, at 2 per cent. discount, $4.80, equaling the pound sterling at 60 days sight.

Market Price Rio Rates of Exchange on London
in Rio per (equivalent in cents per pound).
10 Kilos. 21_d_ 21¹⁄₂_d_ 22_d_
.000 12¹¹⁄₁₀₀ 12³⁹⁄₁₀₀ 12⁶⁷⁄₁₀₀
.200 12⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀ 12⁸⁵⁄₁₀₀ 12¹⁴⁄₁₀₀
.400 13⁰¹⁄₁₀₀ 13³¹⁄₁₀₀ 13⁶¹⁄₁₀₀
.600 13⁴⁷⁄₁₀₀ 13⁷⁷⁄₁₀₀ 14⁸⁹⁄₁₀₀
.800 13⁹²⁄₁₀₀ 14⁴⁰⁄₁₀₀ 14⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀
.000 14³⁷⁄₁₀₀ 14⁷⁰⁄₁₀₀ 15⁰³⁄₁₀₀
.200 14⁸²⁄₁₀₀ 15¹⁶⁄₁₀₀ 15⁵¹⁄₁₀₀
.400 15²⁷⁄₁₀₀ 16⁶²⁄₁₀₀ 15⁹⁸⁄₁₀₀
.600 15⁷²⁄₁₀₀ 16⁰⁹⁄₁₀₀ 16⁴⁵⁄₁₀₀
.800 16¹⁸⁄₁₀₀ 16⁵⁵⁄₁₀₀ 16⁹²⁄₁₀₀
.000 16⁶³⁄₁₀₀ 17⁰¹⁄₁₀₀ 17⁴⁰⁄₁₀₀

Fractional equivalents to be added if necessary, each ¹⁄₄ _d._ in exchange being equivalent to about 1 per cent. Bases for freight differences to be added or deducted at rate of 5 cents and 5 per cent. per bag--.04 cents per pound, to which must be also added commission for buying in Rio or Santos, but if the coffee should be wanted for sale on the Exchange no addition need be made.

TABLE VIII.

For converting London quotations into U. S. currency, including cost, insurance, freight, one month’s charges in New York and 2 per cent. discount.

Market Price in London London Rates of Exchange at 60 days,
per 112 pounds. equivalent in cents per pound.

Shillings. $4 80 $4 85 $4 90

50 $11 43 $11 54 $11 65
51 11 63 11 78 11 89
52 11 89 12 00 12 12
53 12 11 12 23 12 35
54 12 34 12 46 12 58
55 12 53 12 69 12 81
56 12 73 12 91 13 04
57 13 02 13 14 13 27
58 13 23 13 38 13 51
59 13 48 13 60 13 75

The best and most rapid method of reducing the cost of coffee in Brazil to United States currency is, however, to multiply the price by the rate of exchange ruling at the time of purchase. The result will be in English pence, which is converted into American gold in the regular way at the existing rate of London exchange. Another method by which a result accurate enough for all practical purposes may be obtained is to multiply the price by the rate of exchange, and then deducting one-fourth of the amount so obtained, first getting the free-on-board charges in Rio or Santos, to which must be added the cost of freight and other charges.

TABLE IX.

Showing the average value for each year from 1846 to 1878, inclusive, for fair to prime Rio coffee, cargo price in gold, “in bond,” in New York:--

Year. Value.
1846 7.44
1847 7.34
1848 6.63
1849 7.37
1850 10.91
1851 9.44
1852 8.85
1853 9.76
1854 10.48
1855 10.47
1856 11.04
1857 11.15
1858 11.08
1859 11.66
1860 13.74
1861 12.31
1862 15.22
1863 16.39
1864 16.22
1865 15.95
1866 13.86
1867 12.23
1868 10.5
1869 11.00
1870 11.33
1871 12.91
16 48
1872 -- --
17 27
1873 19.99
1874 21.08
1875 18.87
1876 18.21
1877 18.45
1878 15.58
1879 14.87
1880 15.12
1881 12.23
1882 9.77
1883 10.36
1884 10.92
1885 9.01
1886 10.33

Coffee was admitted free up to the first of August, 1861, when an import duty of four cents a pound was levied. In January, 1862, the duty was raised to five cents a pound; and this continued to 1870, when the duty was reduced to three cents a pound. On the first of July, 1872, the impost was removed, and coffee was admitted to duty free once more. In the above table, it will be observed that the highest point was in 1874, after the impost had been removed, when it was 21 cents. This was about the same as in 1863 and ’64, with the duty of 5 cents added; but this, it will be remembered, is an average for the years alluded to for fair to prime, but during the year there was often fluctuations, and prime, as circumstances demanded, brought a very high price, as in some instances it touched at or near 25 cents, when of course all other coffees were proportionally large.

TABLE X.

Showing fluctuations in the coffee market from 1850 to 1867, inclusive.

Year. Pounds.
1850 131,640,000
1851 177,760,000
1852 291,344,000
1853 172,898,000
1854 175,780,000
1855 206,250,000
1856 214,104,000
1857 168,916,000
1858 246,510,000
1859 219,010,000
1860 173,844,000
1861 194,656,000
1862 87,406,000
1863 78,562,000
1864 107,052,900
1865 125,708,000
1866 157,146,000
1867 199,760,000
1868 219,212,400
1869 238,653,800
1870 275,895,400
1871 310,956,800
1872 266,866,600
1873 264,666,600
1874 272,608,600
1875 301,727,800
1876 295,039,800
1877 297,523,600
1878 213,830,000
1879 396,391,600
1880 390,188,500
1881 411,633,200
1882 467,504,400
1883 449,002,400
1884 490,468,000
1885 530,127,400

It will be seen that the consumption increased to 1858, and gradually declined to 1863, when it touched the lowest point. Since that time it has increased nearly seven-fold, but while the quantity imported or consumed has increased beyond our power to fully realize the amount in figures, it is curious to consider the varied values of coffee under the many peculiarities of circumstances for the past thirty-six years.

TABLE XI.

SHOWING HOW COFFEE IS IMPORTED.

_Pro Forma Invoice of 1,000 Bags of Coffee, of 60 Kilos. each, Shipped from Rio de Janeiro or Santos to the United States._

1,000 bags coffee of 60 kilos. each
=net 10 kilos. 60,000, @ 6$350 per
10 kilos., [1]Rs. 38:100$000

1,000 empty bags @ 700 reis, 700$000
-------------- Rs. 38:800$000

Export duty on kilos. 60,000 @ 502
rs. per kilo. = Rs. 30,120$000 @ 13
per cent., Reis 3:915$600

Harbor-master (Capatazias) fees, 60
rs. per bag, 60$000

Brokerage, 50 rs. per bag, 50$000

Shipping expenses (at 220 rs. = Rs.
220,000), sample, tins and box (Rs.
25$000), freight on same (Rs. 2$000),
consul’s certificate (included in
sample, tins, etc.), cablegram (Rs.
100$000), stamps, petties, etc.
(included in sample, tins and box), 347$000
-------------- 4:372$600
--------------
43:172$600
Commission for buying, 2 per cent., 863$450
--------------
44:036$050
Bill brokerage and stamps, ³⁄₈ of 1 per cent., 165$760
--------------
Reis 44:201$810

[1] 1,000 réis = 1 mil-réis = 54¹⁄₂ cents, U. S.

TABLE XII.

SHOWING CONVERSION OF BRAZILIAN INTO AMERICAN CURRENCY.

Amount of pro forma invoice, Reis 44:201$810
At 21¹⁄₂d. exchange at Rio, £3,959 15
$4.84¹⁄₂--¹⁄₈ per £ sterling, $19,161 00

Charges accruing in the United States:--

Freight per steamer to New York,
40c. per bag and 5 per cent.
primage, $420 00

Marine insurance, 1 per cent. less
30 per cent.--⁷⁄₁₀ net, on $21,672
or invoice and £ value @ $5.50, 151 70

Banker’s commission for credit =
³⁄₄ of 1 per cent. on $19,161, 143 72

Bill stamps in London (nil).

Labor at vessel, 4c. per bag;
storage, one month, @ 4c.;
weighing, 3¹⁄₄c.; fire insurance,
1¹⁄₄c. per bag; delivery
(lighterage), 4c. per bag = 16¹⁄₂c.
per bag, 165 00

Petty charges, _i. e._, sampling,
sewing, custom fees, etc., on bags,
per bag, 3¹⁄₂c.; approximate for
skimming of quality,----bags
@ ; furnishing new bags, 35 00

Cables at New York, 5 00
--------- 920 42
----------
Cost of 1,000 in store, $20,081 42

Transcriber’s Notes

Unusual, inconsistent, erroneous and archaic spelling, hyphenation,
punctuation, grammar, typography, etc. have been retained, except as
mentioned under Changes below. Many non-English words and phrases
and geographical, proper and scientific names in particular contain
typographical or other errors.

Page 74, alumnia (2x): possibly an error for aluminia.

Page 132, ...crops of which the first or “roor-pluk,” which is
small...: probably an error for “voor-pluk,” (pre-picking).

Page 292, table: the entry for 17¹⁄₂ is not present in the source
document.

Page 296, table VII: presumably the bottom 6 rows in column 1 should
read 1.000, 1.200, ..., 2.000.

Page 297, Table IX: the values for 1872 may represent the two
values 16.48 and 17.27 (before and after the removal of the impost
respectively).

Page 298, Showing fluctuations in the coffee market from 1850 to
1867, inclusive: the data given continue through 1885.

Page 300, table entry Petty charges ... bags @ ; furnishing new
bags: the price per bag is missing in the source document.

Changes made:

Illustrations were moved out of text paragraphs.

Minor obvious punctuation and typographical errors have been
corrected silently.

Page 31: ...climatic conditions favorable to its production has
been found... changed to ...climatic conditions favorable to its
production have been found....

Page 46: ...the latter being claimed to be analagous... changed to
...the latter being claimed to be analogous....

Page 86: ...when about two weeks’ old... changed to ...when about two
weeks old....

Page 95: An easy meany of applying artificial heat... changed to An
easy means of applying artificial heat....

Page 135: ...at least equal to the renumeration changed to ...at
least equal to the remuneration.

Page 139: Stored coffees, for this reason, loses weight... changed to
Stored coffees, for this reason, lose weight....

Page 142: ...the bean graduing changes to a deep-yellow... changed to
...the bean gradually changes to a deep-yellow....

Page 143: ...by becoming throughly dry and seasoned... changed to
...by becoming thoroughly dry and seasoned....

Page 177: ...Rios improve with age, and with time loses their harsh
flavor... changed to ...Rios improve with age, and with time lose
their harsh flavor....

Page 210: ...coffee leaves contain the principle coffeine... changed
to ...coffee leaves contain the principle caffeine....

Page 213: ...innumerable other substances has been tried... changed
to ...innumerable other substances have been tried....

Page 217: ...patent or proprietory ground coffees... changed to
...patent or proprietary ground coffees....

Page 232: A decoction known as Kishre... changed to A decoction known
as Kishr... as elsewhere.

Page 271: ...it should be used chiefly as an accessary to food...
changed to ...it should be used chiefly as an accessory to food....

Page 295, table: repeated entry 150, 487 50 deleted.

Page 296, table VIII, bottom row: 1360 changed to 13 60.