Important Update on tariffs and the 2025 coffee season

A 10% Tariff on Coffee Imports: What It Means for Specialty Coffee

In case you haven’t seen the news yet, the White House has officially announced a 10% universal tariff on all products imported into the United States, including coffee. These new tariffs are separate from the higher "reciprocal" tariffs that targeted specific countries, which were recently suspended for 90 days. But as of now, all coffee entering the U.S. is subject to this 10% universal tariff.

As a small business owner, I know firsthand how stressful and chaotic this year has already been. Between the ongoing global coffee supply shortage and this sudden change in trade policy, the specialty coffee industry is facing significant challenges. 

e are committed to serving our roaster clients, and we are committed to coffee producers around the world who have been consistently providing us with incredible coffee for years. Even before founding Hacea, I have been dedicated to developing win-win relationships between coffee producers and coffee roasters and that mission has not changed.

What You Need to Know About the New Tariffs

Here’s a quick breakdown of how these new tariffs will affect our business and yours:

• No tariff on coffee that has already arrived or was shipped before April 5th. These coffees will not see any price changes.

• The 10% tariff is based on the FOB (Free on Board) value on the exporter’s commercial invoice — not the final price of the coffee.

• Tariffs are paid in full by the U.S. importer at the time of arrival. Customs and Border Protection will not release the coffee until the tariff is paid.

• Hacea will incorporate the tariff into the price per pound — you won’t be required to pay it upfront.

• All forward contracts will now include language stating that any imposed tariffs will be passed on to the final buyer.

• If tariffs are suspended or removed, we will not include them in coffee pricing. We only pass through costs we are actually required to pay.

• The situation is fluid. Just as the tariffs were implemented with little warning, they could change again. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

Transparency has always been at the core of our pricing model, and we’ll continue to provide cost breakdowns whenever needed.

Planning for the 2025 Coffee Season

We’re bringing in very limited volumes for spot sales. Any existing Hacea partner will receive first right of refusal on the coffees you’ve been using — as well as those we’ve already been discussing for the upcoming season.

Our goal is to support your success with a thoughtful, adaptable green coffee sourcing plan. If you haven’t already, please reach out to us to start mapping out your needs for the 2025–2026 coffee season. We should have firm offers from Central America in May.

Let’s Navigate This Together

We know this is a lot to process. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to connect with us.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We’re all in this wild world together.