Bad Bunny, the world’s most streamed artist, is performing in São Paulo this weekend and has become a cultural icon symbolizing the empowerment of Latin American identity. His influence extends beyond music, as he embodies the historical tensions and dynamics between the United States and Latin America. This relationship can be seen in the economic practices surrounding the coffee market, particularly how coffee produced in Latin American countries is treated in the global market.

Coffee, cultivated in Brazil and Colombia among other countries, is often shipped to the United States in its raw, green form. There, it is roasted, packaged, and sold at significantly higher prices, such as in popular venues like Starbucks. This practice underscores the economic disparity where Brazil, despite being the largest coffee producer in the world, exports its coffee as a low-value commodity. Once processed and marketed in the U.S., the coffee can cost consumers upwards of R$ 25 (US$ 5) per cup, highlighting the stark contrast in profit distribution along the value chain.

Furthermore, the market value of the coffee, grown on farms in Minas Gerais or the Colombian mountains, is heavily influenced by the New York Stock Exchange pricing. This raises questions about equity in the international coffee market and reflects broader issues of power and valuation in the trade, which are deeply intertwined with the historical economic relationships between the United States and Latin America. Bad Bunny's presence in this context serves not only as a musical celebration but also as a commentary on these ongoing inequalities in the global economy.