Coffee prices drop but your morning brew stays pricey

Global rates have eased, but retail prices remain high due to old inventory and uncertainties

- Suneera Tandon

Cocoa bean prices have retreated from their peak, but that is unlikely to make coffee cheaper anytime soon as uncertainty persists and some packaged goods makers are saddled with costlier inventory.

"While global coffee prices have softened, we are still in a wait-and-watch mode due to mixed feedback from the market and news of potential frost-climatic disturbances in Brazil's crop," said Praveen Jaipuriar, chief executive, CCL Products (India) Ltd, which makes and exports instant coffee.

CCL increased the prices of in-house coffee brands and bulk supplies to other businesses by around 30-35% on average in FY25. The company procures green coffee beans from major producing regions worldwide.