DATA GRANULARITY: Certain blockchain paradigms are more conducive to tracking unique assets as opposed to simply updating gross inventory balances. In the context of coffee supply chains, we want a blockchain infrastructure that is purpose-built to track the asset itself. This functionality allows us to illustrate the entire journey of a crop—from bean to brew. For high-end direct trade coffee in particular, a blockchain that enables data granularity provides higher visibility of a product’s journey, presenting a differentiating market opportunity to engage consumers in that journey. While exact needs may vary from region to region and supply chain to supply chain, we believe the above points capture the common needs across most coffee ecosystems, from large-scale operations to boutique, direct trade companies. It’s important to recognize that there are always tradeoffs between technological solutions— what may be the right technology for one industry doesn’t always translate as the right solution for another. Our second question, “what might a blockchain implementation look like in a coffee supply chain?” is best explored through a real- world scenario. 13