Climate, tariffs and labor reshape U.S. coffee supply
A timely NPR analysis explains how recent U.S. tariff policy, labor shortages and climate change are converging to reshape the global coffee industry and could materially affect what Americans pay for and taste in their daily cup. The piece cites a 2014 study projecting roughly a 50% loss of land suitable for coffee by 2050, expert interviews (including Vuna CEO Sara Morrocchi and University of Greenwich agroecologist Jeremy Haggar), and discusses regional impacts (Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia) as well as on‑farm economics and migration pressures facing growers.
Environment
Economy
🔍 Key Facts
- A 2014 study cited projects that land suitable for coffee could shrink by about 50% by 2050.
- Researchers estimate Ethiopia could lose about 21% of its coffee‑growing area with warming temperatures.
- Arabica—the variety most U.S. consumers drink—typically grows above ~1,200 meters and is vulnerable to rising temperatures, drought and pests; combined with tariffs, these pressures threaten U.S. supply and prices.
📍 Contextual Background
- U.S. consumer prices for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture rose 9.5% from August 2024 to August 2025, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- U.S. consumer prices for furniture and bedding rose 4.7% from August 2024 to August 2025 (CPI).
- U.S. consumer prices for household furnishings and supplies rose 2.8% from August 2024 to August 2025 (CPI).
- Lower-cost furniture sold in the United States is commonly imported from countries in South and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia and India.