Climate change is making coffee more expensive. Tariffs likely will too
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — With her purple-and-pink hair swaying, Reneé Colón stands on a stepladder in the rented corner of a warehouse, pouring Brazilian coffee beans into her groaning old roasting machine.
The beans are precious because they survived severe drought in a year when environmental conditions depressed coffee production globally, doubling the price of raw beans in just months.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm“&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ 4@7766 :D 8@:?8 E@ 364@>6 >@C6 D42C46[” D2:5 r@=ó?[ 7@F?56C 2?5 C@2DE6C 2E uF68@ r@7766 #@2DE6CD] “$66:?8 E92E 5C2>2E:4 =@DD @7 E96 qC2K:=:2? 4C@A :D 2 A6C764E 6I2>A=6]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmtsx%~#’$ }~%ti %9:D DE@CJ :D 2 4@==23@C2E:@? 36EH66? #@496DE6C x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J 2?5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm{@DD6D 7C@> 962E 2?5 5C@F89E 92G6 4FE AC@5F4E:@? 7@C642DED :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C2K:=\4=:>2E6\492?86\5C@F89E\4@7766\92CG6DE\2ed`e2c3b`c6e32f4“d`b4_g273ehheQmqC2K:= 2?5 ‘:6E?2>[k^2m E96 H@C=5VD =2C86DE 4@7766 8C@H6CD] v=@32= AC@5F4E:@? :D DE:== 6IA64E65 E@ :?4C62D6[ 3FE ?@E 2D >F49 2D 4@>>@5:EJ >2C<6E :?G6DE@CD 925 6IA64E65] %92EVD D6?E 4@7766 AC:46D FA[ =2C86=J 3642FD6 @7 4@?E:?F65 9:89 56>2?5 :? tFC@A6[ E96 &]$][ 2?5 r9:?2]k^Am
kAm!C:46D A62<65 :? u63CF2CJ 3FE 92G6 C6>2:?65 9:89[ 7@C4:?8 C@2DE6CD =:<6 r@=ó? E@ H6:89 9@H >F49 @7 E92E 4@DE E@ 23D@C3 2?5 9@H >F49 E@ A2DD @? E@ 4@?DF>6CD]k^Am
kAm%96 362?D r@=ó? H2D C@2DE:?8 4@DE 96C Sd]d_ A6C A@F?5 :? 62C=J |2C49[ >@C6 E92? 5@F3=6 H92E E96J 4@DE :? $6AE6>36C] p?5 E92E H2D 7@C >:I65[ >:5C2?86 362?D] $A64:2=EJ 4@7766D — 8C@H? :? 56=:42E6 4=:>2E6D E@ D=@H 8C@HE9 2?5 255 7=2G@C — 42? 4@DE 6G6? >@C6]k^Am
kAm!C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>AVD 4FCC6?E `_T E2C:77D 4@G6C >@DE 4@7766\AC@5F4:?8 4@F?EC:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3C2K:=\FD\ECF>A\EC256\E2C:77D\cg6f67_4`edh2b744357ab7ed_g3`24fQmqC2K:=k^2m[ tE9:@A:2 2?5 r@=@>3:2[ 2?5 2C6 6IA64E65 E@ 5C:G6 FA k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^ECF>A\64@?@>J\A@==\E2C:77D\:?7=2E:@?\AC:46D\C646DD:@?`5ba_“d6gg_`6chf_35d4447afca74cQm4@DED 7@C p>6C:42?Dk^2m] p>:5 9:D 492@E:4 E2C:77 AC@?@F?46>6?ED — 2E @?6 A@:?E 96 E9C62E6?65 ceT E2C:77D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E2C:77D\64@?@>J\:?7=2E:@?\ECF>A\dg`5gh642h76`f6ed5c7d`d4d3c262bfQm’:6E?2> :>A@CED 2?5 baT @? x?5@?6D:2 :>A@CEDk^2m 367@C6 A2FD:?8 E96> — p>6C:42? 4@7766 C@2DE6CD 2C6 C6E9:?<:?8 E96:C DFAA=J 492:?D]k^Am
kAm“(:E9 2== E96D6 492?86D :? 4@7766 >2J36 H6 D9@F=5 @A6? @FC @H? 52>? 72C>[” r@=ó? >FD6D]k^Am
kAm#FC2= }6H *@C< :D?VE 2? @AE:@?[ @7 4@FCD6] %96 H@C=5’D 36DE 4@7766 E9C:G6D ?62C E96 6BF2E@C[ H96C6 D62D@?D 2C6 =@?8[ 2?5 :? 9:89 2=E:EF56D[ H96C6 D=@H 8C@H:?8 2==@HD 362?D E@ 82E96C 7=2G@C] qFE !F6CE@ #:4@[ H96C6 r@=ó? 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 92G6 C@@ED[ :D?VE 2 D6C:@FD @AE:@?[ 6:E96C — =23@C 4@DED 2C6 E@@ 9:89 2?5 D96 H@CC:6D 23@FE E96 :?4C62D:?8 C:D< @7 4C@A\52>28:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^9FCC:42?6D\42C:3362?\DE@C>D\3FD:?6DD\28C:4F=EFC6\cffbe255__222ge2hfa`a`g_746h67_5Qm9FCC:42?6Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm$96 D9CF8D @77 3FJ:?8 4@7766 7C@> w2H2:: 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2[ H9:49 D96 D2JD :D 6:E96C A@@C BF2=:EJ[ @G6CAC:465 @C 3@E9]k^Am
kAmx? u63CF2CJ[ 8=@32= 4@7766 8C66? 6IA@CED H6C6 5@H? `c]aT 7C@> 2 J62C 62C=:6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= r@7766 ~C82?:K2E:@?’D >2C<6E C6A@CE] %96 D9@CE286 =65 E@ E96 9:896DE AC:46 6G6C 7@C C2H 4@7766 :? u63CF2CJ[ 3C62<:?8 E96 C64@C5 D6E :? `hff H96? D6G6C6 7C@DE H:A65 @FE f_T @7 qC2K:=’D 4@7766 A=2?ED]k^Am
kAmr=:>2E6 :D?’E E96 @?=J E9:?8 5C:G:?8 FA AC:46D[ D2:5 s2C:2 (92=6?[ 2 3FJ6C 7@C $2? uC2?4:D4@\32D65 #:EF2= r@7766 #@2DE6CD] x?7=2E:@? :D 5C:G:?8 FA E96 4@DE @7 =23@C[ 76CE:=:K6CD[ 2?5 3@CC@H:?8[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$96 56D4C:365 36:?8 :? |6I:4@ :? pAC:= D66<:?8 E@ 7:?2=:K6 4@?EC24ED 36EH66? %CF>A’D 7:ED 2?5 DE2CED @? E2C:77D] xE C6>:?565 96C @7 36:?8 :? r@=@>3:2 2 >@?E9 62C=:6C 2D %CF>A E9C62E6?65 2?5 E96? 324<65 2H2J 7C@> E2C:77D E92E H@F=5 92G6 27764E65 4@7766 AC:46D]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D <:?5 @7 =:<6 C@==6C 4@2DE6C 52J[ 3642FD6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J :E 5:5?’E 6I:DE[” (92=6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @7 E96 C646?E C:D6 :? 4@7766 AC:46D >2J 36 7C@> :>A@CE6CD 3FJ:?8 6IEC2 :? 2?E:4:A2E:@? @7 E96 E2C:77D] r@=ó? 36=:6G6D AC:46D H:== 8@ DE:== 9:896C 2D :>A@CE E2I6D 368:? 36:?8 A2:5] p?5 H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?76C6?46\3@2C5]@C8^E@A:4D^4@?DF>6C\4@?7:56?46Qm4@?DF>6C 4@?7:56?46 9:EE:?8 2 `a\J62C =@Hk^2m[ r@=ó? 4@F=5 D66 2 564C62D6 :? 56>2?5 7@C 96C AC6>:F> 4@7766]k^Am
kAm“xE :D E@F89 @? @FC 6?5 3642FD6 :E 5C:G6D E96 AC:46 FA[ E@F89 @? E96 4@?DF>6C 6?5 3642FD6 E96J 92G6 E@ A2J >@C6 2?5 E@F89 @? E96 72C>6CDV 6?5 3642FD6 E96J >2J 36 6IA6C:6?4:?8 C62==J D:8?:7:42?E =@DD6D[” r@=ó? D2:5]k^Am
kAm*6E D96VD 4@>>:EE65 E@ 6IA2?5:?8]k^Am
kAmx? s646>36C[ D96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 E@@< @FE 2 Sd_[___ =@2? E@ 3FJ 2 4FDE@> 4@7766 C@2DE6C 7C@> %FC<6J E92E H:== EC:A=6 42A24:EJ] %96J’C6 ECJ:?8 E@ :?4C62D6 D2=6D 3J 255:?8 ?6H H9@=6D2=6 4=:6?ED =:<6 4@7766 D9@AD[ 2?5 D6==:?8 5:C64E=J E@ 9@>6D G:2 2 362?D\@7\E96\>@?E9\DEJ=6 DF3D4C:AE:@? D6CG:46]k^Am
kAm%96 r@=ó?D 92G6 C2:D65 E96 H9@=6D2=6 AC:46 @? 2 A@F?5 @7 C@2DE65 362?D 3J ad 46?ED] %96JVC6 4@?D:56C:?8 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 7@C A@FC\@G6CD 2?5 6DAC6DD@ 5C:?<D 2E E96:C EH@ C6E2:= =@42E:@?D]k^Am
kAmpE @?6 @7 E9@D6[ 42==65 |6=@[ @?6 4@FA=6 D2:5 E96J 5@?VE =@@< 2E E96 4@7766VD AC:46 @? E96 C646:AE] u@C E96>[ :EVD 2 EC62E]k^Am
kAm“(6 <?@H H6 4@F=5 8@ 7:?5 4@7766 4962A6C D@>6H96C6 6=D6[” D2:5 #@3 }6H6==[ 2 9:89 D49@@= 3:@=@8J E62496C[ 2D 96 96=5 2 4@@:?8 :?72?E 52F89E6C 2=@?8D:56 9:D H:76[ H9@ :D 2=D@ 2 E62496C] “|2J36 :E’D ;FDE 3642FD6 H6’C6 ?6H A2C6?ED[ 3FE J@F 86E[ =:<6[ 423:? 76G6C DE2J:?8 :? E96 9@FD6 2== 52J]”k^Am
kAmr@=ó? :D 2=D@ D66<:?8 E@ 4FE 4@DED]k^Am
kAm%96 H2C69@FD6 H96C6 D96 C@2DED 92D D@>6 6IEC2 DA246[ D@ D96VD H6:89:?8 DE24<:?8 FA >@C6 328D @7 C2H 362?D E96C6 E@ D2G6 2D >F49 2D Sd__ @? >@?E9=J DE@C286 4@DED :? A@CE 4:E:6D]k^Am
kAm$96VD EC:65 E@ 4F=E:G2E6 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 72C>6CD E@ >:?:>:K6 AC:46 DA:<6D 2?5 4@?EC@= 362? BF2=:EJ] $96 56D4C:365 H@C<:?8 H:E9 2 72C>6C :? r@=@>3:2 2D 4@7766 AC:46D H6C6 DA:<:?8 :? u63CF2CJ E@ =@4< :? 2 @?6\J62C 4@?EC24E E92E 2G@:565 E96 H@CDE @7 E96 :?4C62D6]k^Am
kAmp?5 =:<6 >2?J D>2== 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD[ D96VD 925 E@ 86E FD65 E@ E96 4@>A=6I:EJ @7 E2C:77D]k^Am
kAmx? y2?F2CJ[ D96 EFC?65 5@H? 2 A:E49 7C@> 2 |@?EC62= 4@7766 :>A@CE6C H9@ DF886DE65 E96 &]$] 5@==2CVD DEC6?8E9 :? r2?252 H@F=5 2==@H 96C E@ D2G6 >@?6J 3J :>A@CE:?8 E9C@F89 E96:C H2C69@FD6] $96 762C65 E92E E2C:77D @? r2?252 4@F=5 :?4C62D6 AC:46D] !=FD[ E96 4@7766 H@F=5 92G6 E@ 4C@DD 2? 6IEC2 3@C56C[ C:D<:?8 56=2JD] p?5 E96 G2=F6 @7 E96 5@==2C 92D 366? FA 2?5 5@H?]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E E9:?8D E@ 36 =6DD 4@>A=:42E65 :?DE625 @7 >@C6[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm%96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD’ 4=:>2E6 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286 C646:G6D 7:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7C@> >F=E:A=6 AC:G2E6 7@F?52E:@?D] p! :D D@=6=J C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E] u:?5 p!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^23@FE^DE2?52C5D\7@C\H@C<:?8\H:E9\@FED:56\8C@FAD^QmDE2?52C5Dk^2m 7@C H@C<:?8 H:E9 A9:=2?E9C@A:6D[ 2 =:DE @7 DFAA@CE6CD 2?5 7F?565 4@G6C286 2C62D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A]@C8^5:D4@G6C^$FAA@CE:?8\p!Qmp!]@C8k^2m]k^Am
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.