Coffee Prices Rise, Affecting Farmers in Mexico

Tomas Edelmann, a fourth-generation coffee farmer and vice president of the International Coffee Farmer’s Co-op, has highlighted the adverse effects of climate change on coffee production. Despite employing a drought-resistant, shade-grown method, Edelmann reported that an extended dry season has severely impacted crop yields this year. He emphasized that without favorable weather conditions, coffee production suffers, leading to increased prices for consumers. The coffee market has already felt the repercussions of climate-related events, such as the significant frost that devastated crops in the summer of 2021, causing US coffee futures to spike to 260 cents per pound. Experts predict that prices will remain elevated due to a global supply shortage exacerbated by climate change. Neil Rosser, a commodity consultant specializing in coffee, noted that while Arabica coffee typically dominates the market, rising costs of Robusta coffee are now influencing overall prices. Giuseppe Lavazza, president of Lavazza, indicated that UK supermarket coffee prices could rise by an additional 10 percent, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the coffee supply chain. Nestlé, the owner of Nescafe, has also reported a decline in its profit margins for 2023, attributing this to increased Robusta costs. As climate change continues to disrupt coffee production, consumers may need to brace for higher prices in their daily brews.