Can coffee weather the storm?

Climate Central’s analysts found that Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia—countries responsible for 75% of global coffee production—experienced 57 more days of heat harmful to coffee crops between 2021 and 2025. Temperatures above 30°C damage arabica, the world’s dominant coffee species, while extreme weather like hailstorms and floods further threaten yields, as seen in Brazil’s 2025 coffee crisis and Vietnam’s persistent flooding. Unpredictable weather patterns are worsening, with longer dry periods and shifting rainfall degrading soil health and water availability, according to Colin Hall, co-founder of UK coffee brand Cupper’s Journey. These changes create financial pressure on growers, forcing adaptations in farming practices to maintain crop quality and sustainability. The instability is also driving coffee price volatility, with supply chain disruptions and fluctuating stock levels. Oliver Broster, senior manager of coffee analysis at Expana, notes that anomalous weather events, once rare, now occur every few years, amplifying market uncertainty. To address the challenges, brands like Cupper’s Journey emphasize direct partnerships with producers, fair pricing, and support for climate-adaptive measures. Hall stresses the need for education, collaboration, and access to regenerative farming techniques to ensure long-term sustainability. While consumers remain unaware of the industry’s struggles, climate change is already reshaping coffee production, threatening both quality and affordability. The shift toward sustainable practices is critical to securing the future of the global coffee supply.