THE COFFEE C MARKET: What is it and why is it increasing? 

October 24, 2025 • Blake Shaiper

The "C Market" 

With every good that’s sold, there’s a market behind it that constantly changing. The Coffee C Market, also known as the “Coffee Commodity Market,” is the global benchmark for pricing Arabica coffee. It’s traded as a futures contract under the title KC, which is why you’ll often see it referred to as the NYC C Market.

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What Does it Represent? 

The C Market price represents the base price at which coffee is traded globally per pound. For example, if the C Market price is $3.00/lb, importers might buy a specific crop at a premium of +$1.50 (making it $4.50/lb). So while the C Market sets the foundation, it’s rarely the price that roasters actually pay.

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What Drives the Market?

Coffee pricing is influenced by several factors—supply, demand, and risk. Weather is one of the biggest drivers, since it directly affects supply. When a drought hits, global supply drops, impacting the entire market. A clear example of this happened in late 2024 and early 2025, when Brazil experienced a major drought that caused the sharpest spike in C Market history. Another major factor is tariffs—these are easier to track and predict, but they still create volatility in market pricing.

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Where We Are Today? 

As of late 2025, the C Market has hovered between $3.50–$4.20/lb—significantly higher than historical averages. While inflation plays a role, this increase has been a rapid spike that never corrected. The sustained rise—driven by climate instability, lower global reserves, and increased production costs—is what many are now calling “the new normal.” That’s why you’ve likely seen roasteries adjusting their prices over the past year.

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What's Next? 

Prices won’t stay this high forever, but most in the industry expect them to remain elevated for the foreseeable future. To stay aligned with the market, we’ll be doing quarterly price assessments to ensure our prices remain fair and sustainable. We’re also implementing price adjustments in waves rather than all at once.

 

Starting now, we’re updating pricing for our Modest Series. By early 2026, we’ll complete the adjustments across our lineup. This gradual approach ensures transparency and stability as we continue to source the same high-end coffees we believe in. Quality has always defined what we do—and maintaining that standard requires adapting to the realities of the market.
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