Fund selling kept London coffee futures under pressure throughout the day on Thursday, with the drop gaining momentum as New York arabica futures lost just over 1.5 percent.
Liffe September robustas finished the session at $689 a tonne, down $10 on the previous session and only nine dollars off its lowest point since November 2003 scored on Monday. Forward months suffered less, aided by earlier roaster buying, with January handing back $6 to finish at $719 a tonne.
"The market is just tracking down and some of the short-term funds are doing some light selling," one trader said.
He said there was good roaster buying in the back months, from January forward.
Traders were still unsure of future price direction although many were bracing themselves for further fund liquidation over the next couple of days.
Origin selling had ceased at these lower levels, traders said.
Sentiment has not been aided by the lack of frost in the coffee growing areas of the world's biggest producer, Brazil.