Why are coffee prices going up? What's the deal with C-price and will it get more expensive?

Coffee prices are going up and the forecasts leave no illusions that it is unlikely to get cheaper. So if your morning coffee starts to seem like a luxury, it's not just your subjective perception. What it depends on price of coffeeWhat is C-price and do we really need to prepare for even bigger increases? Let's find out.

What influences the price of coffee?

At coffee prices consists of many factors, the most important of which are:

• Weather conditions - Extreme events such as droughts, floods or frosts can drastically reduce coffee yields, resulting in a shortage of raw material on the market.
• Production costs - Fertilisers, energy, human labour and transport are becoming more expensive, and this is reflected in the final price of coffee.
• Logistics and global tensions - Supply delays, shipping problems or armed conflicts affect raw material flows and availability.
• Speculation on the financial markets - the price of coffee on world stock exchanges depends not only on real supply and demand, but also on the decisions of investors and speculative funds.

What is C-price?

C-price is a global price reference point for green Arabica coffee. This is the price set on the New York Commodity Exchange (ICE - Intercontinental Exchange). It forms the basis for price negotiations between exporters, importers and roasters.

C-price acts as a market barometer. If it goes up, farmers get more for their coffee. At the same time, the cost of raw material rises for both coffee roastersas well as cafés. C-price has reached record levels in recent months. In February 2025, the price of Arabica coffee futures reached as high as USD 4.30 per pound. This is the highest value since 1977!

Why is coffee getting so expensive?

The rise in coffee prices is the cumulative effect of several problems at once:

1. Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer, struggles with adverse weather - Drought and climatic anomalies are reducing yields and this is affecting supply.
2. Ethiopian Coffee Exchange has introduced minimum export prices, which has raised the cost of buying coffee from that country.
3. Logistical problems and inflation - rising fuel prices and transport disruptions increase the cost of importing raw material.
4. Growing demand for Robusta - the increasingly expensive Arabica makes coffee roasters and producers are starting to use more Robusta, which in turn is driving up its price.

Will coffee become even more expensive?

Although the coffee market is volatile, there are many indications that high prices may persist. The problem is not just a temporary shortage of raw material - the whole system of coffee production and trade is changing. Growing costs are rising, and farmers need to invest in technology and green solutions to adapt to new regulations and climatic challenges.

Price vs. quality - which is more important?

W Story Coffee Roasters We are not only guided by price, but above all by quality. We know that good coffee costs money. We also know that it is worth investing in reliable farmers and raw material that meets the highest standards. No matter what happens on the market, with us you will always find carefully selected coffee beansthat reflect its true character - without compromise or cheap substitutes.

When you choose good coffee, you're not just paying for a trendy product - you're investing in an ethical source, taste and experience. And this is something that will always hold its value, regardless of the dollar exchange rate or stock market panic.