COFFEE MARKET UPDATE
As both a coffee roaster and cafe owner, we wanted to offer some context around recent price adjustments and the broader conditions affecting our industry — here at home and around the world.
Navigating Rising Green Coffee Costs
Over the past 12 months, the cost of green coffee has increased by more than 70%, with the C market price for arabica trading above US$4.00 per pound — the highest levels seen in decades. The C market (short for “commodity” market) is the global benchmark price for arabica coffee, and it serves as the foundation for most coffee purchasing contracts worldwide — whether the coffee is commodity-grade or specialty.
Even though we pay a premium above the C price for the quality, traceability, and sustainability we value, those premiums are still based on a moving benchmark. So when the C price rises sharply — as it has — the cost of all green coffee increases accordingly. It’s not just our business that’s affected: every roaster and café in the world is impacted, from large multinational chains to small independents like us.
So, About Your Flat White...
For cafes, these raw cost increases translate to an additional 10–20¢ per cup just in green coffee alone — and that’s before accounting for other rising expenses, including milk, wages, rent, and utilities. As a result, you may have noticed a modest price increase of around 5–10% on your coffee.
These adjustments help us continue delivering the quality and consistency you expect — while also ensuring fair pay for our team and continued investment in the relationships and practices that underpin our coffee offering.
For producers, higher prices can offer some relief — especially when they’re facing rising costs themselves. But for the rest of the supply chain, it means tighter margins and tough decisions. Roasters are paying significantly more for the same coffees they bought a year ago, and cafés are absorbing higher costs per cup before it even reaches the grinder.
With the market remaining volatile heading into 2025, we’re all navigating this together — adjusting carefully so we can continue offering great coffee without compromising on quality or sustainability.
While the pressures are real, our focus remains steady: supporting our partners, maintaining integrity in sourcing and roasting, and delivering the best possible experience in every cup.
Doubling Down on Direct Trade
Now more than ever, we’re deeply committed to direct-trade partnerships with our growers. These long-term, meaningful relationships provide farmers with the confidence to reinvest in their farms and ensure the sustainability of their operations — even in challenging times.
For us, these partnerships also mean we can continue offering you exceptional coffee, regardless of the fluctuations in global markets. The trust you place in us — and in the farmers who grow your coffee — is something we take very seriously.
You've made it clear that you care about the story behind your cup, and we’re proud to support practices that are transparent, ethical, and sustainable.
Ultimately, this trust — shared between growers, roasters, and you, the coffee drinker — is what keeps the entire system moving forward, ensuring that every cup we serve is the result of care, collaboration, and commitment.
Thanks as always for being part of our coffee community.
We’re here to keep bringing you the best beans we can —
and to keep doing it right.
☕❤️
