Is it safe to drink coffee during a heatwave? Experts weigh in. Plus, traders scramble to beat Trump’s tariff deadline on coffee from Brazil, and the industry confronts a looming issue: farmers are aging, and the next generation is reluctant to take over.
‘Traders Rush To Land Brazilian Coffee in the US Before Trump’s 50% Tariff’ – via Reuters
Coffee traders are scrambling to import as much coffee as they can to the United States by August 1st. The moves are in response to a threat made by United States President Donald Trump, who announced earlier this month that he would impose a 50% tariff on all imports from Brazil.
As Marcelo Teixeira and Maytaal Angel report for Reuters, traders are diverting cargo ships en route to other countries in order to bring coffee from Brazil to the U.S. Some are also moving Brazilian coffee stateside from warehouses in Mexico and Canada.
Commodity coffee prices spiked in the aftermath of Trump’s threat, and some U.S.-based importers have already amended their wholesale prices for shipments arriving in August. Assuming the tariffs go into effect, the impact could be devastating. “It is a form of taxation which is hurting American businesses. No one else,” said Steve Walter Thomas of the importing company Lucatelli Coffee. “This new 50% tariff is an existential threat to importers like me.”
Tariffs are a tax paid by the importer on imports, and the costs are typically passed on to the consumer. News reports predict that consumers will see even higher retail prices on dozens of goods in the near future, including orange juice and, of course, coffee. “Americans are going to feel the impact of the tariffs in their morning brew,” food economist David Ortega told USA Today, noting that Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee.
Whether these tariffs will come to pass is another matter entirely. Trump has repeatedly delayed and reversed tariff decisions in the past, leading to the creation of a new acronym, TACO: Trump always chickens out.
Read more about the tariff fallout here.
‘Is Coffee Farming Facing an Ageing-Out Crisis?’ – via Global Coffee Report
The future of coffee is at risk, threatened by a range of issues, including rising temperatures and extreme weather, as well as the uncertainty that comes with fluctuating coffee prices. However, one issue that also poses an imminent threat is age: coffee farmers are aging, and younger generations are not always interested in taking over.
Most coffee farmers are between 50 and 60 years old—few are under 35. As Daniel Woods reports for Global Coffee Report, young people in coffee-producing countries have more economic opportunity than ever. As a result, many of them are leaving rural areas (where most coffee farms are) for cities. Furthermore, the precarious economics of coffee farming provide them with little incentive to stay.
“People are chasing education or simply a different lifestyle from their parents. Farming is often seen as low income, which it is,” coffee consultant Gerd Mueller-Pfeiffer told Woods. “It’s labour intensive, and climate risk influences how much money you might make. Without real investment, modernisation, or incentive, we will continue to push towards this demographic cliff.”
Some are working to change this. In Brazil, the cooperative Expocacer has developed several programs directed at encouraging the next generation to stay in farming. One of their programs, called Elas no Café, aims to incentivize more women to become involved in managing their family farms. “When all family members – men and women – are prepared and have their role recognised, succession occurs more harmoniously,” Expocacer’s executive director Simão Pedro de Lima said.
However, de Lima notes that Expocacer’s approach may not be effective in solving the larger, worldwide succession problem. “Although coffee farming is almost global in scope, each country has its own culture, politics, and economic structure. It is not possible to have a model of practices that is universal.”
Read the full story on coffee’s ageing workforce here.
‘Major New Barista Event Level Up to Debut in Minneapolis This Fall’ – via Daily Coffee News
Top industry pros are teaming up to launch a first-of-its-kind education and networking event built exclusively for baristas.
Level Up, taking place September 27-29 at Mill City Roasters in Minneapolis, is the brainchild of a new non-profit, Raise the Bar, founded by industry veterans Rachel Apple, Ivana Chan, and Sandra Loofbourow. According to the organizers, the event was designed with working baristas in mind and will feature educational events and open conversation in a non-competitive environment.
There are 80 spots available for the weekend, featuring training in topics such as brewing and sensory skills, alongside networking opportunities and hands-on experience at a public cafe staffed by attendees and educators. The weekend costs between $550 and $775 and covers all the events, lodging, meals, and local transportation. Organizers have offered several scholarships and are seeking sponsors to help cover costs.
“Baristas are doing the labor that connects every part of the value chain to the public,” Raise the Bar co-founder Rachel Apple said. “We wanted to build the world we want to live in instead of relying on existing structures that aren’t serving the people we care about.”
Read the full story on Raise the Bar’s new event here.
More News
‘MICE2026 to Launch New Global Origin Program’ – via Global Coffee Report
‘Seattle Cold Brew Brand Fights Nestlé Trademark Petition’ – via Daily Coffee News
‘UK Coffee Consumption Trends Revealed’ – via Global Coffee Report
‘Coffee at 30 Cents Is the Latest Gimmick in China’s Billion-Dollar’ Instant Commerce’ Price War’ – via CNBC
‘The Coffee Brewer Of The Future? A Coffee Time Machine? The Cavat Is All This And More (We Think)’ – via Sprudge
‘China Cuts Tariffs on African Coffee Imports’ – via Global Coffee Report
Is Coffee Good For You?
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued heat warnings across the country and cautioned those under such advisories to avoid caffeine because it can cause dehydration.
The NWS predicted “dangerously hot conditions” for parts of the country and issued heat warnings in 11 states, from Washington to Florida. Both the NWS and the Centers for Disease Control advise people to limit intake of caffeinated drinks—as well as alcoholic and sugary beverages—during heatwaves.
However, in an article analyzing the warnings, Food and Wine spoke to health experts, most of whom said that drinking moderate amounts of coffee is fine. The government advice “reflects an abundance of caution approach to dehydration in high-risk settings (such as extreme temperatures), but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation,” said Jason Eastty, owner of Healthspan Longevity. “In moderate amounts (up to 400 milligrams per day), caffeine does not cause net fluid loss in regular consumers.”
This is backed up by research, although again, moderation is key. A 2003 literature review found that “doses of caffeine equivalent to the amount normally found in standard servings of tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks appear to have no diuretic action.” Another study from 2014 found something similar, concluding that “coffee, when consumed in moderation… provides similar hydrating qualities to water.”
In Food and Wine, nutritionist Linda Lin recommended those nervous about drinking coffee and getting dehydrated to try matcha, which has less caffeine. “If you’re going to have caffeine, matcha is a gentler choice than coffee,” Lin said. “It has less caffeine overall, and it delivers it more gradually.” As a bonus, it’s also very trendy.
Beyond the Headlines
‘We’re All Trying To Find the Coffee Company Who Did This’ by Fionn Pooler
‘What The New York Times Gets Wrong About Coffee Prices In Italy’ by Zac Cadwalader
