November Green Coffee Outlook: The Latest on Tariffs and Coffee

Despite Last Week’s Executive Order, High Tariffs Are Still Applied to Some Countries

November 21 Update: A few days after this Outlook was published, the administration changed course on the Brazilian tariffs, removing the 40% ad valorem duty for coffee and a other agricultural products not grown in the US. This huge shift in position should be a boon to US buyers of Brazilian coffee who were priced out by the steep tariffs attached to them. The announcement also caused a big dip in the market on open, though it mostly recovered throughout the day (closed around 7c/lb down). It’s still unclear how this will affect things long term, but it is certainly a ray of hope. India is now the only country with a tariff on coffee, at 25%. I’m leaving the original update intact below to show just how fast things can change. See more on tariffs and coffee pricing.

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Original November 16 Update:

The big news last Friday, 11/14, was the administration’s executive order to exempt certain agricultural products from the tariffs, including coffee. On its face, it seemed we could collectively breathe a sigh of relief that the added costs we’ve been paying on coffee since last April had been lifted. Unfortunately, the detail most news outlets missed is that the exemption only covers the 10% reciprocal tariff. While that zeros out tariffs on coffee from most countries, it does not remove the much larger amounts levied against Brazil and India, who account for half of global production

As of this writing, there is still a 40% tariff applied on all incoming goods from Brazil, and 25% from India, without exception. Put in real dollars, a 40% import tax on our Brazilian coffees translates to roughly $2.00 per pound over than the price we pay to the farmers and exporters. And that’s just us. These two countries supply the US with almost half of our coffee, and the impact of those added costs have a broad reach to roasters and consumers, as well as knock-on effects on an already soaring market.

Our near term hope is that trade deals can be struck with Brazil and India soon, resulting in an annulment of those tariffs. Not only would this significantly reduce the final cost of Brazilian coffee, but it is likely to have at least some stabilizing effect on market volatility more broadly. Our own Brazilian coffee starts landing now, and what we pay for them is largely reliant on that outcome.

The Supreme Court also heard arguments on the legality of how the tariffs were implemented in order to decide if they were legal to begin with. At the heart of the case is whether or not the IEEPA – the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, used to regulate trade in emergency situations – includes the power to enact tariff duties on imports. Initial questioning from justices seemed to indicate broad skepticism to supporting arguments from the White House, however, no ruling is expected for a few weeks. Even if the Supreme Court rules against the White House, this doesn’t mean tariffs will go away for good. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said himself, “the White House is always preparing Plan B”.

Getting back to Uganda

Thompson just returned from a sourcing trip in Uganda, his first since before the pandemic. It was an opportunity to meet up with a long term Rwanda connection of ours who is working to develop specialty-oriented programs at washing stations in areas such as Mount Elgon, and Rwenzori, where a lot of Arabica production is centered. We tasted initial samples from a few of these projects a couple months back, and decided to explore the idea of committing to significant volume in 2026.

Through the years, we’ve had a tough time getting our footing in Uganda. For one, Ugandan coffee production has historically been volume-oriented, focused on commercial grades and Robusta, rather than high quality “Specialty”. It can be difficult to enact the kind of change necessary to improve quality in a place where processing traditions are so well established, even with an increased value proposition to farmers.

We also just have a tough time selling meaningful amounts of Ugandan coffee, which makes it difficult for us to commit to large exportable volumes. This one is hard for us to understand considering the amazing coffee flavors, and variety of processes coming out of the country! Our enthusiasm about a coffee origin doesn’t always rub off onto our customers, a story we’re hoping to change for Uganda with the prospects from this new project.

Learn more about the coffees from this project, and Uganda coffee production in Tom’s recent video.

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Check out our launch schedule and list of coffees in-transit below

Scroll through the Upcoming Coffees lists below for an updated schedule of coffees rolling out in November/December. In response to requests for more details about when coffees will be available, we’ve added a new column with the projected “Launch Week”. While it’s a good estimate of when things will launch, please keep in mind that we may occasionally push back the schedule due to issues outside our control. Especially during the busy holiday season.

Also, a reminder that coffees in our “Incoming Coffees” list with a status of “ARRIVED”, means the container is in Oakland, but not yet in our possession. It generally takes a couple of weeks for incoming shipments to be physically moved to the offsite storage facility we use. Once they are transferred, they will be removed from our “Incoming” list. On that note, just because a coffee’s disappeared from the list, doesn’t mean you missed them. It means they are now in our possession and you will see them on a future launch schedule.

Below is a list of upcoming green coffees currently on the schedule to be added to our website over the next two months.

Upcoming Coffees November

Launch Week	Coffee Name	Bags
11/17 – 11/21	Nicaragua Finca Buenos Aires	20
11/17 – 11/21	Ethiopia Uraga Raro Boda	100
11/17 – 11/21	Guatemala Michicoy Finca Rosma	32
11/17 – 11/21	El Salvador Dry Process Anacafé	19
11/17 – 11/21	Costa Rica Zarcero Danto Centroamericano	30
11/17 – 11/21	Kenya Muranga Kangunu AB	30
11/17 – 11/21	Peru Productores del Diamante	47
11/24 – 11/28	Peru Diamante Roger Chilcon	20
11/24 – 11/28	Papua New Guinea Korgua Peaberry	38
11/24 – 11/28	Sumatra Aged Gayo – 5 Year Vintage	30
11/24 – 11/28	Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista Bourbon	40

Upcoming Coffees December (so far)

Launch Week	Coffee Name	Bags
12/1 – 12/5	Costa Rica Tarrazu Beneficio Don Mayo	30
12/1 – 12/5	Ethiopia Dry Process Dogo Sodu	120
12/1 – 12/5	Guatemala Libertad Aurelio del Cerro	22
12/1 – 12/5	Kenya Nyeri Ndaroini AA	30
12/1 – 12/5	Nicaragua Buenos Aires Java	10
12/1 – 12/5	Peru Huabal San Pablo	32
12/8 – 12/12	Colombia Buesaco Alianza Granjeros	22
12/8 – 12/12	Colombia Honey Process Aponte	41
12/8 – 12/12	Ethiopia Dry Process Senna Katta Mountain	100
12/8 – 12/12	Guatemala San Diego Buena Vista Java	70
12/8 – 12/12	Peru Chirinos Las Pirias	36
12/8 – 12/12	Rwanda Rulindo Tumba	55
12/8 – 12/12	Rwanda Nyamasheke Gitwe	50
12/15 – 12/19	Colombia Honey Aponte Javier Janamejoy	12
12/15 – 12/19	Colombia Edward Sandoval Chiroso	20
12/15 – 12/19	Guatemala Huehuetenango Lote Hamacas	20
12/15 – 12/19	Kenya Kiambu Spike AB	30
12/15 – 12/19	Rwanda Milles Collines Peaberry	35
12/15 – 12/19	Sumatra Wet Process Ribang Gayo	30
12/22 – 12/26	Colombia Inzá Veredas Vecinas	24
12/22 – 12/26	Rwanda Rusizi Gaseke	50
12/22 – 12/26	Kenya Nyeri Kangocho Peaberry	15

Incoming coffees currently on the water: November onward

Please keep in mind that names may change when we list the coffee on our website. Location status of “TBD” are also a bit of a wild card, as logistical disruptions are out of our control! You also may notice some of the coffees from last month’s list have disappeared. Don’t worry, you probably haven’t missed them. They are now in our possession and should be on our launch schedule soon. Thanks for your patience!

African Incoming Coffees

Lot ID	Bags	ETA
Rwanda Rulindo Tumba	45	ARRIVED
Rwanda Rulindo Tumba 2	10	ARRIVED
Rwanda Nyamasheke Coproca	30	ARRIVED
Rwanda Rusizi Gaseke	50	ARRIVED
Rwanda Nyamasheke Nyungwe	50	ARRIVED
Rwanda Rusizi Mushaka	50	ARRIVED
Rwanda Nyamasheke Gitwe	50	ARRIVED
Rwanda Milles Collines Peaberry	35	ARRIVED
Rwanda Nyamasheke Mutovu	20	ETA DEC
Rwanda Nyamasheke Gatare	55	ETA DEC
Rwanda Dry Process Karongi Gitesi	35	ETA DEC
Rwanda Dry Process Gitwe	25	ETA DEC
Rwanda Dry Process Tumba	15	ETA DEC
Rwanda Honey Process Gatare	20	ETA DEC
Rwanda Milles Collines Peaberry Lot 2	50	ETA DEC
Rwanda Inzovu (name will change)	40	ETA DEC
Rwanda Rulindo Tumba 3	30	ETA DEC
Rwanda Dry Process Kivu Kageyo	30	ETA DEC
Burundi Mutambu Migoti Hill	38	ETA JAN
Burundi Collines Masenga	42	ETA JAN
Burundi Monge Murambi Hill	41	ETA JAN
Burundi Collines Rugembe	16	ETA JAN
Burundi Collines Rugembe	31	ETA JAN
Burundi Mutambu Migoti Hill	38	ETA JAN
Burundi Monge Murambi Hill	36	ETA JAN
Burundi Dry Process Nyabiraba Kinama	33	ETA JAN
Burundi Dry Process Collines Kigina	33	ETA JAN
Burundi Dry Process Nyabiraba Kinama	12	ETA JAN
Burundi Dry Process Kibingo	25	ETA JAN
Burundi Dry Process Nemba	25	ETA JAN

Central America Incoming Coffees

Lot ID	Bags	ETA
Costa Rica Lourdes Sumava Milenio Variety	15	ETA DEC
Honduras Roberto Figueroa Pacas	12	ETA DEC
Honduras Carlos Damian Pacas	7	ETA DEC
Honduras Alejandro Guzman Pacas	10	ETA DEC
Honduras Lourdes Figueroa Pacas	10	ETA DEC
Honduras Wil Armijo Pacas	10	ETA DEC
Honduras Anibal Baca Pacas	9	ETA DEC
Honduras Maria Isabel Fernandez Parainema	10	ETA DEC

South America Incoming Coffees

Lot ID	Bags	ETA
Peru El Diamante, San Jose De Lourdes – Caturra	47	ARRIVED
Peru La Palma – Caturra, Catuai	39	ARRIVED
Peru Las Pirias, Chirinos – Caturra, Pache, Typica	36	ARRIVED
Peru Jaen, Cajamarca Lot 2 – Pache, bourbon	34	ARRIVED
Peru San Pablo, Huabal – Caturra, Catuai	32	ARRIVED
Peru Jaen, Cajamarca – Catuai, Catimor	30	ARRIVED
Peru Roger Chilcon – Caturra, Pache	20	ARRIVED
Peru El Paraiso, Huabal – bourbon, caturra	15	ARRIVED
Peru Rioja Family – Caturra	10	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Aponte Laureano Martinez	7	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Aponte Javier Janamejoy	12	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Aponte Sonia Janamejoy	11	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Aponte Jorge Janamejoy	10	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Vereda San Francisco	11	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Vereda El Paramo	17	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Process Aponte	41	ARRIVED
Colombia Inzá Agua Blanca	20	ARRIVED
Colombia Inzá Veredas Vecinas	24	ARRIVED
Colombia China Alta Jose Buitrago	10	ARRIVED
Colombia Buesaco Rio Juanambú	11	ARRIVED
Colombia Buesaco Alianza Granjeros	22	ARRIVED
Colombia San Antonio EA Decaf	58	ARRIVED
Colombia Edward Sandoval Chiroso	20	ARRIVED
Colombia Leonardo Henao Gesha	10	ARRIVED
Colombia Honey Aponte El Páramo	10	ETA DEC
Colombia Pitalito Franky Peña	18	ETA DEC
Colombia Huila Pink Bourbon	23	ETA DEC
Colombia Productores de Pitalito	32	ETA DEC
Colombia Edward Sandoval Wush Wush	6	ETA DEC
Colombia Edward Sandoval Chiroso	12	ETA DEC
Colombia La Plata Raul Hector	8	ETA DEC
Colombia Buesaco Maricela Ordoñez	9	ETA DEC
Colombia Oporapa Pink Bourbon	17	ETA DEC
Colombia Inzá Maria Ilma	7	ETA DEC
Colombia Buesaco Miguel Paz	7	ETA DEC
Colombia Nariño Alto Naranjal	27	ETA DEC
Colombia Buesaco Alianza Granjeros	26	ETA DEC
Colombia Buesaco Río Juanambú	39	ETA DEC
Colombia Inzá Cresta El Hato	21	ETA DEC
Colombia Inzá El Tabor	16	ETA DEC
Brazil Pulp Natural Patrícia Carvalho	30	ETA DEC
Brazil Yellow Pulp Natural Carlos & Dani	50	ETA DEC
Brazil Pulp Natural Condado São José	50	ETA DEC
Brazil Dry Process Doña Maria Dorotéia	50	ETA DEC
Brazil Dry Process Felipe Goncalvez	61	ETA DEC
Brazil Cerrado Ana Maria Menezes	59	ETA DEC
Brazil Espírito Santo Rubens Correa	52	ETA DEC
Brazil Jacuí Tulio Arantes Vieira	65	ETA DEC
Brazil Dry Process Patrocinio Fazenda Paraiso	35	ETA DEC
Brazil Machado Adilson Moreira Soares	109	ETA DEC

Indonesia & SE Asia

Lot ID	Bags	ETA
Sumatra Aged Gayo – 5 Year Vintage	30	ARRIVED
Wet Hulled Sumatra	30	ARRIVED
Java Sunda Stamplat	40	ETA DEC
Java Sunda Mekarsari	20	ETA DEC
Java Wet Hulled Gunung Tilu	25	ETA DEC
Java Wet Hulled Stamplat	20	ETA DEC
Java Sunda Rancabali	20	ETA DEC
Java Honey Process Gambung	30	ETA DEC
Java Dry Process Gambung	20	ETA DEC
Flores Honey Process Turelelo	10	ETA DEC
Flores Wolo Wio	20	ETA DEC
Flores Bajawa Eko Heto	20	ETA DEC
Flores Dry Process Turelelo	5	ETA DEC
Flores Wet Hulled Turelelo	20	ETA DEC
Sulawesi Wet Hulled Toraja Pango Pango	30	ETA DEC
Flores Dry Process Manggarai Colol Robusta	40	ETA DEC
Timor Leste Dry Process Laklo	20	ETA NOV
Timor Leste Small Producer Lot	60	ETA NOV