Coffee Prices Surge Amid Global Uncertainty

Coffee lovers across the United States are facing rising prices as the global market reacts to multiple pressures, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

At Revory Roaster in Kansas, a 12-ounce bag of the popular “Punchiker Espresso” blend has jumped from $15 to $17 over the past year, and owner Andrew Gove plans to raise it to $18 next month, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Rising costs for small-batch coffee suppliers like Revory reflect more than just retail pricing. Tariffs, crop failures, higher rent, and increased labor costs have all contributed to the strain. Even after recent declines in coffee bean prices, fears over the Iran conflict and increased trading in coffee futures have pushed prices upward again.

Gove explained that he has absorbed nearly half of the cost increases himself, wary that passing the full price to consumers could risk losing customers. Founded in Wichita in 2013, Revory Roaster sells both in-store and online, along with wholesale to about 160 clients, including churches, offices, schools, and grocery stores.

Last year, green coffee bean prices surged to $4.30 per pound from $2.41 in just a few months, driven by extreme weather in Brazil and Vietnam. Additional US tariffs, including a 40% duty on Brazilian goods imposed in 2025, further increased costs. Gove reports paying over $14,000 in tariffs alone that year.

The retail impact has been significant nationwide, with coffee prices rising faster than many other consumer goods. Geopolitical instability, particularly tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, has compounded market volatility. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, further threaten supply chains and push prices higher.

Industry analysts warn that these conditions create a complex, fast-changing market for producers, traders, and roasters, and that high coffee prices are likely to persist for the foreseeable future.