Soaring coffee prices impact local roasters

FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) — High tariffs and drought in South American countries are driving up the price of coffee. Over the past 12 months, the cost of importing coffee beans has increased by 21%, putting a strain on the wallets of caffeine addicts and local roasters.

Companion Coffee Roasters, a local coffee shop and roaster based in Florence, imports beans from seven different countries.

“We’re really lucky to be able to import them and, you know, experience different cultures,” said co-owner Jared Pryzbysz. “We really take the time to organize and represent the work of farmers at the end of the day.”

Jared said the tariffs were causing financial hardship. As a small business, he said it’s harder to absorb additional costs without raising prices, which they’ve had to do several times.

“We just have to keep our heads turned and be able to adjust where we need to adjust and take it day by day,” he said.

Companion Coffee Roasters is starting to sell more mixed-origin blends rather than single-origin. Jared said they import less coffee from countries with high tariffs, like Brazil.

“It forces you to think outside the box a little bit when certain coffees disappear from the market and you’re like, ‘oh, well, now what do we do?’” he said, “It’s a way for us to use blending to try to replace that single origin that we had before.”

Jared said the solution isn’t as simple as switching to national suppliers. The United States imports more than 99% of its coffee from other countries because the plant grows in a tropical climate.

Facing an uncertain future, co-owner Tessa Pryzbysz said she is making adjustments to reduce costs and encourage people to shop at local businesses.
“When you’re able to substitute something that you usually buy on Amazon and a local store carries, that’s really the best way to support local businesses,” she said.

A Goldman Sachs report says that by the end of the year, U.S. consumers will absorb 55% of tariff costs, U.S. businesses will pay 22% of costs, and foreign exporters will absorb 18%.