Trading High Prices and Coffee: Specialty vs Commercial
Over the past two years, the global coffee industry has been reshaped by unprecedented high prices. From commodity traders to café consumers, every stakeholder has felt the impact of price volatility. As market prices for green coffee beans soared—peaking at US $4.41/lb in February 2025—the traditional divide between specialty coffee and commercial coffee has started to blur.
Historically, commercial coffee was synonymous with affordability and mass production, while specialty coffee was positioned as a premium experience based on quality, transparency, and …