Transparency report 2023

Welcome to our annual transparency report for the green coffees that we have bought in 2023. To help you to understand and appreciate the table of numbers better, do spend a few minutes to read through this post.

Price Transparency Highlights:

• Average Price per Pound: We paid an average price of $6.04 per pound for the green coffee beans purchased in 2023.

• Price Range: The prices we paid varied depending on the origin, quality, and specific agreements with the producers. Prices ranged from US$3.25 to US$20.06 per pound.

• Direct Trade: A significant portion of our purchases in 2023 were made through direct trade relationships, where we work directly with coffee producers. This direct relationship allows us to understand better what their challenges are and how we can help to keep the business sustainable.

• Collaborative Partnerships: We continued to strengthen our long term partnerships with producers to have a greater impact to those involved in the supply chain.

• Breakdown of Prices: We try our best to break down the prices that are paid as FOB (Free On Board - price paid for the coffee that are packed in container and ready to be boarded on a ship),

The dynamics of coffee pricing post Covid has been challenging. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, coupled with climate change and urban migration has pushed the cost of coffee production northwards. The Middle East conflict also created unexpected freight challenges as shipping companies had to route over the tip of Africa to avoid Houthis’ attack. Rising cost in fertilizers were already felt back in 2022, but the labour crunch in coffee fields have definitely worsened year on year. Last year, our producers have already felt the challenge in hiring cherry pickers during harvests. This year, during our recent trip to Central America, the problem has exacerbated. We hear stories that about a thousand people try to cross the borders towards United States on a daily basis. Those who manage to settle down in the United States are sending money back to their families in Central America, so those who used to work in coffee farms no longer need to work as they receive income from their family members working in US. We see that the repercussion of this migration is threatening the future of coffee farming. The younger generation see a bleak future in coffee farming, hence there is no desire to continue. For producers who want to continue, with the shortage of labour, it is hard to sustain. We hear of coffee farm owners abandoning the farms as it is impossible to get people to pick the cherries during harvest. As roasters and green coffee buyers, we constantly ask ourselves, what can we do to help mitigate this problem?

By publishing the prices we pay for the green coffees, we hope to create to create awareness amongst consumers and put things into perspective what one pays for a cup of coffee versus what coffee farmers earn from every pound/kg of green coffee they sell to us. Most roasters tend to refer to the C-market price as a reference when they talk about how much more they pay for their green coffees. Breaking the bubble, it’s important to understand that C-pricing is typically the coffee prices that are traded on the New York stock exchange for commodity coffees - coffees that you typically find in huge chains and supermarkets. In 2023, the price has fluctuated from a low of $1.51 to a high of $2.02 before closing the year at $1.83. Based on what we understand from the producers whom we work with, these prices are barely enough to cover the costs for production. Producing for the commodity market at such prices is hardly adequate to commensurate for the costs and the risks they are undertaking to continue coffee farming.

Agriculture is hard, and when one’s livelihood is subject to climate risks, labour crunch and rising costs, will they continue to produce those delicious coffees we enjoy so much? Transparency cannot solve this problem by itself, but it is a movement towards sharing with coffee consumers that we seek to reward producers for the quality that they produce. We understand the risks that they take on their end and attempt to share the risks by paying them a price that is sustainable for them to continue doing what they are doing. But we cannot do this alone, or with the 90+ companies who have signed the transparency pledge and share what they are paying for their coffees. We hope this will spur more companies in the coffee industry to come forward and share what they are paying to the producers. Less talk (or sustainbility-washing) and real action to actually pay more for the coffees that we buy. That’s is the only way to keep quality coffees flowing.

Lastly, this wouldn’t have been possible without the collective support of our customers, subscribers and followers through the years, helping us to do what we are doing and at the same time, allowing us to support our producers in an economical sense. Thank you again and we hope to work hand in hand with our producers and share their fruits of labour in the future.

Jia Min & Dennis

12th anniversary & charity: water

While Madagascar’s rich biodiversity draws environmental and conservation attention, the people who live there are often overlooked. Madagascar ranks 173 out of 191 ranked countries on the 2022 Human Development Index. Basic access to clean drinking water sits at just 53% throughout the country and drops to 36% in rural areas. Sanitation and hygiene access is similarly limited. Regular floods, droughts, earthquakes, and cyclones exacerbate basic health and safety concerns.

charity: water began working with with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Madagascar in 2019 to provide clean water access where needed. CRS Madagascar uses a public-private partnership approach that engages the local government and a private water service provider. Once a water system is built, the private service provider will operate and repair the system for 10-15 years. People pay a small fee for water, which goes toward service operations, maintenance, repairs, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) programming.

This year, to commemorate Nylon’s 12th birthday, we will be raising funds to build a piped system for a community in Madagascar to access clean safe water. This piped system is planned to serve approximately 90 people and Nylon has committed to donate US$9000 for this water project. We are inspired by the stories of how a simple water tap can change peoples’ lives including 2 of our favourite ones which we shared below that really touched us.

Meet Honorine - Honorine used to wake up at 3 am to collect dirty water. But now, with access to clean and safe water, she’s been able to devote her time to much more important things—like running her own restaurant!

Every Father's Dream - Clean water brings a father in Madagascar more time with his daughters.

We hope to see you down at Everton Park to support us on this project. All coffee sales go towards the our fundraiser - the more you drink, the more we can raise! See you on 1 May!

Celebrating 10 years of our coffee journey

It’s been 2 weeks since we had a blast catching up with so many of you on May 1st when Nylon celebrated a decade doing what we have set out to do since day 1. It’s been an incredible journey. We started as a tiny coffee bar/roastery to a more ‘grown-up’ size with an ever-growing community who has showered us with much love and support. We are humbled to be part of your daily coffee routine. It’s not an easy feat to keep doing what we do for 10 years. Without the support of the producers and community, we would not have made it. From deep down our hearts, we thank you.

Over the past decade, we have been fundraising for charity: water. The past donations had gone to places such as Uganda, Mali and Mozambique to construct drilled wells, piped system tap stands and wells with hand pumps. Since we started fundraising for charity water, we had funded 9 water projects and made an impact to an estimate 817 people living in those areas. It’s time we take a bigger step to give back more so we can continue to have great coffees for many more years to come. From 1 May 2022, we have pledged to donate 1% of our annual revenue to support environmental solutions by signing up to be a member of 1% for the Planet - a nonprofit that brings global businesses and individuals together to drive philanthropic support to address the most urgent environmental issues of our time.

So how does this change what we have been doing? Nothing in short. We will continue to work closely with charity: water by directing our annual pledged donations to bring clean water to millions who are in need of it for their daily livelihood. With a bigger pledged amount, we will also contribute to 1 or 2 other non-profit organisations that are involved in projects that are aligned with our philosophies.

Nylon believes if you DO GOOD, you’ll FEEL GOOD and coffees will TASTE GOOD. You can help us to do more to protect the only Planet that we have by continuing to drink Nylon and in turn, help to contribute to our 1% pledge. Together, we can drive change.

In the coming weeks, we will have a couple more exciting news to share with you, so stay tuned!

From Jiamin & Dennis, as well as the rest of the team - Darren, Jeffery & Sue-Ann, a BIG THANK YOU & lots of hugs and fist bumps! See you over coffee soon.

Amazing 7

This year, we decided to continue to work with charity: water as we believe there needs to be more work done all over the world where the lack of clean water results in continued poverty, inequality, diseases and death. In Singapore, we are blessed with the infrastructure to have ready access to clean water. To do our part, we celebrated Nylon’s 7th birthday with a specially-planned community market, and bringing in 7 old and new neighbours of Everton Park and friends to join in the charity fund raising event for charity: water. These included the legendary Ji Xiang Confectionery, hidden soya bean gem - Beano, our popular next-door neighbour - At the Myo, the one & only barber shop in Everton Park - Mister Moustache, as well as our new flowery neighbour - Blossoms by Rei. Our baker friends from J Cakes and Room for Desserts never fail to deliver, and provided a huge array of delicious bakes, making the event a resounding success.

It was extra meaningful for us to commemorate this special day with the community that we so love. It was great to see the owners of the businesses to take time out to pitch in with the sales and dropping by to soak in the party atmosphere. Over the 7 years, Everton Park has gone through a mini gentrification but thankfully, we feel its charm has not been lost as new and old businesses continue to co-exist in harmony. 

With the community effort, we managed to raise a total of S$7,491.65 on 1st May. Here is the detailed breakdown contributions from all those who participated.

At the Myo : S$200
Beano : S$124
Blossoms by Rei: S$214
Ji Xiang Confectionery: S$280
J Cakes & Room for Dessert: S$1768 
Mister Moustache: S$304
Nylon: S$2998
General donations: S$1603.65

We’re stoked by the results and truly touched by the generosity of those who came by and contributed. 100% of this amount will be used to fund water projects. Your donation will change lives simply by providing access to clean water. A heartfelt thank you from us. We’ll continue to make delicious coffees to express our gratitude.