Coffee at a Crossroads

Rising prices for coffee beans, along with a forecasted drop in supplies, show how climate change, pandemic-induced shipping bottlenecks and changing consumer habits are upending an industry that is key to economic growth in many developing countries. At the same time, the rising prices, greater demand for specialty products, more at-home brewing and higher consumption in many countries offer new opportunities for the industry — and for some coffee growers, who have often struggled to make a living. Meanwhile, industry leaders are growing more concerned about the sustainability of coffee, with its production increasingly concentrated in Brazil and Vietnam, as consumers demand food with less environmental impact and recent extreme weather events highlight the effects of climate change.