Part 8/9:
However, the 1929 Wall Street crash led to economic turmoil in coffee-producing nations, particularly Brazil, which attempted to raise prices by burning its coffee stock. During this difficult period, the Swiss company Nestlé created a revolutionary coffee powder that only required mixing with hot water, setting the stage for the instant coffee craze. This innovation found a ready market during World War II, as it accompanied soldiers on the front lines.
In the subsequent decades, efforts to stabilize coffee prices culminated in the establishment of the International Coffee Organization in 1962. However, as producing nations began to break from agreements, worldwide production surged, particularly with Vietnam developing its robusta plantations to become the second-largest coffee producer.