Coffee prices haven't surged this much in decades

[douglas9]

Coffee drinkers are in for a jolt long before their first sip.

Retail coffee prices in the United States in August jumped nearly 21% compared to the same month last year — the largest annual jump since October 1997, according to the latest Consumer Price Index, released Thursday. On a monthly basis, coffee prices rose 4%, the most in 14 years.

Coffee drinkers have President Donald Trump’s tariffs to blame, in part. The United States is largest importer of coffee in the world and it relies on foreign countries for the beans, given there are very few places it can grow domestically. Nearly all – 99% – of coffee consumed in the United States is imported, according to the National Coffee Association.

One of the most heavily-tariffed countries is Brazil, which is the United States’ top source for coffee, according to US Department of Agriculture data. Brazilian imports face 50% tariffs, among the highest that the US levies on any country’s goods, because of Trump’s anger over the trial and recent conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally.

Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, predicts coffee prices “will easily exceed the record as the full effects of the 50% tariffs levied on Brazil last month work their way onto store shelves.”

Other coffee bean-growing countries are also being slammed with tariffs. Colombia, the second-biggest exporter based on net weight, has a 10% tariff, and Vietnam, the third-biggest, has a 20% tariff.

Big brands and small shops have been trying to absorb the costs, but consumers’ luck with prices appears to have run out.


https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/12/food/coffee-prices

[BoRaGard]

1. "You should blame us. We did this." - G.O.P.

OK

[Blues Heron]

2. When Trump has an attack of gas we get the flu

[TheFarseer]

3. Trump doesn't understand basic economics

Tariffs make sense when you have an industry where you can satisfy your own needs and other countries are dumping cheap product on you. Tariffs make no sense when you can’t hope to satisfy your own demand with what you can produce.

I hope everyone knows we are paying significantly more for coffee because Trump tried and failed to protect a foreign criminal. This should be shouted from the rooftops.

[OldBaldy1701E]

6. Especially now that said criminal was found guilty.

We need to point this out as much as possible.

[mucifer]

8. I'm still of the opinion he is a russian agent whose job is to destroy the USA and kill as many people as possible.

[GiqueCee]

16. Though the evidence is...

... circumstantial, it is also voluminous. The media treats every transgression as an isolated incident, and downplays it, if they mention it at all. But viewed as a whole, it's not just evidence, it's irrefutable proof that Trump is stone dead guilty of treason.

I'm not certain of the distinction between an agent and an asset; I think he's too stupid and impetuous to be trusted as an agent, but he's certainly an asset, and Putin's been playing him like a cheap fiddle since the eighties.

You can damn sure betcha the M$M won't touch that with a ten-foot pole!

[TheFarseer]

18. I'm half convinced

He is intentionally crashing the economy so he and a cabal of rich assholes can buy up all the houses, farmland, stock etc for pennies on the dollar.

[mucifer]

21. There is also killing people by destroying the CDC, FDA, EPA and FEMA.

[Wounded Bear]

24. Probably, but it is obvious that trump is at the very least a useful idiot for Putin...nt

[Farmer-Rick]

26. Yes, finally someone who understands

How tariffs are suppose to work.

I was trying to explain this but I guess I didn't make it as clear as you did. Because I got a lot of push back

If we had a vibrant manufacturing sector, if our agriculture weren't focussed on mostly grain exports, if we had a newly developing industry, than tariffs could help and protect our industries. But we have none of that. All we have is a big consumer market and infrastructure to market large quantities of products.

Tariffs in this case only runs up prices. They aren't protecting anyone except maybe the corporations who manufacturer in foreign countries and then sell in our markets.

And our markes, populated by a once rich middle class, is getting poorer and poorer. Because the jobs have all moved to other countries. We are now a nation of waiters and sales clerks. That's why corporations are catering, and pricing, to the filthy-rich instead of the average Joe or Jane. The average person isn't buying as much anymore.

[UpInArms]

4. Cost of beans for me

A year ago … around 5.99 for 12 ounces

In April 2025 … 8,72 for 11 ounces

This week … 10.34 for 11 ounces

[Farmer-Rick]

27. Even dirt has gotten more expensive

A truckload of dirt that's dug up down the road went up by 30% as compared to last year. Why?????

[GoCubsGo]

5. It's probably going to get worse.

Pol Potbelly slapped those tariffs on Brazil because they were going to prosecute his buddy, Bolsinaro. I'm sure he's fuming over the fact that they now convicted Bolsinaro, and are sending him to prison for 27 years. Don't be surprised if more revenge tariffs are coming.

This is also affecting beef prices, as we import a lot of that from Brazil, along with the coffee.

[spinbaby]

7. I've been buying extra and freezing it

I don’t really know if freezing is the preferred method of storing coffee long term, but I’ve been buying an extra bag of my preferred brand (365 Pleasant Morning Buzz) every time I go to Whole Foods and stashing it in my freezer. Doing the same with chocolate from Aldi.

[littlemissmartypants]

15. I just bought a mason jar vacuum sealer. I hope it helps. ❤️

[Wednesdays]

22. Freezing coffee is a good idea, especially if you freeze the unground beans

I have coffee beans that I've stored in my freezer for more than 5 years, and pull a few out occasionally to grind them. Still tastes fresh.

Just be sure that they're kept sealed air-tight, like in a Ziploc bag.

[multigraincracker]

9. Down to one cup a day. After that it's hot tea.

[Auggie]

10. Maybe this opens some MAGA eyes ...

yeah, go ahead and tell me MAGA will blame the Dems, follow Trump to Hell, and yada-yada, but coffee prices could be the beginning of a tipping point to rational thinking.

Key word here is SOME. Not all. SOME.

[Wednesdays]

23. Just a 10% shift in the electorate

Is the difference between a GOP win and a Democratic landslide.

[Farmer-Rick]

28. If they count the votes fairly

That's a big if.

[Auggie]

31. Thank you!

[mopinko]

11. i'm worried about my kid. works for blue bottle coffee.

she’s in nyc, runs a cafe in manhattan. they’ll prolly b fine, cuz everyone there expects to pay ridiculous prices. but they’re planning on expanding in chgo. they have 2 stores here now.
she was just here for 3 wks, cuz she’s not just a great gm, she’s becoming their fixer. it was so great to have her here. they’re planning to send her to open the 3 cafes they have on the drawing board.
not sure what kind of prices they’ll get away w here. and it’ll b just my luck that they dont go over. grrr.

at least she left me w a 3lb bag.

[Diamond_Dog]

17. Because that would benefit Puerto Rico

And the white supremacists ruling this country would never allow it. It’s a great idea, though!

[Farmer-Rick]

30. So many good things could come from

Puerto Rico.

I never understood why it wasn't better utilized.

Well maybe it's for the best. The beauty of the land hasn't been destroyed. If pedo Trump got his hands on it, he would pave it and put up more resorts and giant gold ballrooms.

[Emile]

13. How long before Trump blames Biden?

[surfered]

14. Not to worry. Trump's genius plan to incentivize producing coffee in America

Will begin happening soon.

[Wounded Bear]

25. I'm pretty sure bananas are on that list as well...

[IronLionZion]

19. Any MAGA starting to grow coffee in America?

No? I'm shocked. Just like them not applying for jobs undocumented immigrants were doing.

[Ocelot II]

20. I've definitely noticed. Didn't stop me from buying coffee, but

I might have to cut back on food. Priorities...

[pansypoo53219]

32. more reason to get my favorite. valentine's costa rica beans.