An unprecedented Global Shortage Crisis
Over the past 12 months, coffee lovers across the globe have noticed something unsettling: prices for their daily brew have skyrocketed. In many regions, wholesale and retail coffee prices have doubled — and the shock is being felt from your local café all the way to the supermarket shelves.
So, what’s behind this dramatic surge in coffee prices? The short answer: a severe and widespread shortage of raw (or often called "green") coffee, driven by a perfect storm of climate events, geopolitical instability, and supply chain breakdowns.
Let’s unpack this critical situation.
Climate Chaos Hits Coffee-Growing Regions Hard
Coffee is a fragile crop.
It thrives in very specific conditions — mild temperatures, consistent rainfall, and relatively stable seasons.
Unfortunately, climate change has thrown some of that out the window.
In Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, the 2024 growing season was devastated by extreme weather events.
First came the worst drought in nearly a century, followed by unexpected frosts that wiped out large portions of Arabica crops.
Similar patterns emerged in Central America and parts of Africa, where floods, heatwaves, and unpredictable rainfall hammered farms that are already under constant pressure.
These aren't isolated incidents.
They're now part of what is widely acknowledged as a clear trend — a shift in weather patterns that’s making it harder and more expensive to grow coffee every year.
Yields Plummet, Demand Remains Strong
While supply has dwindled, global demand for coffee continues to rise — especially in developing nations where coffee consumption is accelerating. For example, coffee consumption in China is growing at almost 4 times the global average.
This expanding imbalance between supply and demand has turned coffee into a high-stakes commodity.
Exporting countries are now struggling to fulfill contracts.
Warehouses are emptying out faster than they can be replenished.
Specialty-grade lots, in particular, are becoming scarce — and when they do appear, they're fetching record prices at origin.
A Ripple Effect on Prices
For coffee roasting brands and the raw coffee importers, cost of green coffee has in many cases more than doubled.
And it's not just the raw coffee beans — rising shipping, packaging, and energy costs are compounding the problem along with extended delays and breached contract at origin.
Some coffee companies have absorbed these costs for as long as possible, but many are now being forced to raise prices just to stay afloat. Consumers are seeing it in the form of $7–$8 café coffees and retail bags pushing past $20–$30 for 250g.
Even with higher prices, coffee roasting brands face a difficult reality: securing the right quality of beans has become 10x harder, and long-standing supply relationships are being tested like never before.
In Australia, up until 2024, a vibrant and fluid spot market for raw coffee had always been available, but now it has essentially vanished with importer warehouses mostly empty.
What Happens Next?
Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix.
Coffee trees take years to mature, and the damage done by recent climate events will impact harvests for seasons to come.
Investments in more resilient coffee farming and supply diversification are underway, but they’ll take time to bear fruit.
In the meantime, coffee is becoming a luxury item — not because of a trend, but out of necessity.
How We’re Navigating the Crisis
At JustFreshRoasted, we've always focused on quality, sustainability, and building strong relationships with our farming partners.
This crisis has tested those values but also reinforced them in some cases.
We’re working harder than ever to source responsibly and transparently — ensuring that both farmers and customers are treated fairly, even in times of shortage.
We're adapting, innovating, and doing everything we can to keep delivering exceptional coffee without compromising integrity.
This is a challenging time for the entire industry, but it’s also a reminder of just how precious great coffee really is.
Some origins will temporarily appear "Out of Stock" in our store. It's no easy feat to replace these coffees and in most cases, we need to wait for another crop cycle which could be up to 12 months.
Final Sip
The next time you enjoy a rich, complex cup of coffee, know that it represents more than just a beverage — it’s the result of immense effort, resilience, and care across the globe.
As the industry navigates one of its toughest periods in decades, your continued support means more than ever.
