Why Did Coffee Prices Spike in 2024? What’s Coming in 2025?

Coffee got expensive in 2024.

If you noticed your favorite roaster raising prices or your morning cup costing a little more, you’re not alone. Global coffee prices surged last year, and not just because of inflation. In Brazil, a major drought and unusually high heat stressed coffee trees. At the same time, logistics bottlenecks across global shipping slowed down exports, while rising fertilizer costs made farming more expensive across the board.

By the end of 2024, green coffee prices (especially for arabica) had jumped. Many producers couldn’t meet their normal yield targets. Some specialty importers had to scramble to secure lots, especially from smaller farms that were hit hardest.

At Experimental, we saw this firsthand: producers we work with raised prices to keep operations sustainable, and we paid more because we believe in long-term relationships and fair pricing.

So what’s happening now, in 2025?

This year, things are stabilizing but not dropping.

While some of the global supply pressures have eased, labor costs remain high, and climate stress on coffee plants isn’t going away. For roasters who buy directly, the cost of green coffee is still well above pre-2022 levels. And while commodity prices (like the C-market) may dip short term, high-quality experimental coffees don’t follow those trends closely—they reflect the true costs of thoughtful cultivation and processing.

We’re watching the market daily. But more importantly, we’re talking with producers, cupping with exporters, and sourcing coffee we believe in regardless of market volatility. When you buy a bag from us, you’re supporting a value chain rooted in trust, experimentation, and transparency.

- Bradley