
Tariff Updates: A Roundup
Your one-stop-blog for all tariff updates.

Your one-stop-blog for all tariff updates.

Most Newly Imported Coffee is Now Exempt from U.S. Tariffs
Effective 12:00am on November 13th

Learn more about Indonesian coffee from a Sumatran Producer and Cafe Imports’ Senior Green Buyer.

Join us in Hong Kong and Seoul to cup through some of Cafe Imports’ latest and most exciting arrivals while receiving a hands-on demo of The Coffee Rose, led by Ian Fretheim, Director of Sensory Analysis and creator of The Coffee Rose, along with Angie MacKenzie, International Sales Rep.

How often do you get a chance to feel like a kid again? There’s something about the whir of pedals, the swish of an air pump, and the wind in your face that can take you right back if you grew up on two wheels. When local not-for-profit Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES) put out a call for their holiday gift drive at the same time we were hosting our All Staff get together, it was a perfect opportunity to do some teambuilding while supporting a cause we believe in.

Brazil has long been the backbone of flagship blends and espresso programs, but with the U.S. now imposing a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, we explore some alternatives that could help fill its place.

Ian, Director of Sensory Analysis, spoke with Lee Safar on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward on the meaning of quality in specialty coffee. Check out the episodes here.

This expansion of quality beyond traditional strongholds is breathing new life into Mexican coffee and offering more diverse profiles to explore.
Supporting Mexican coffee now means supporting a supply chain that’s actively investing in its future. From farm renovations to quality experimentation, producers are betting big on specialty.

As you may have heard, the U.S. government announced a new round of tariffs last night—part of a broader “reciprocal” trade strategy that affects imports from more than 70 countries. These tariffs, ranging from 10% to 50% depending on country of origin, are scheduled to take effect on August 7.

The farmers of Idido, Yirgacheffe, have a word in the Gedeo language for something that is exceptionally sweet or outstanding. That word is malebo.

An update on proposed tariffs and what we know currently.

We’re excited to congratulate our own sales representative, Nicole Good, on being included in the Sprudge Twenty Class of 2025!

Cafe Imports and Testi Coffee bring a single-variety lot to all three offices. Learn more about the story behind the coffee here.

What if your cupping tool was built to help you focus on the cupping, rather than the form?

As the new harvest of Costa Rican coffees begins to arrive, we’re proud to announce the second year of Echoes of Coffee, our ongoing documentary series that highlights the voices, lives, and legacies of long-standing coffee producer partners.

Recorded live during SCA Expo in Houston, both parts of this special podcast are available now. Listen or watch here.

Last week, the Intercontinental Exchange, which operates the C Market Futures exchange, announced changes to coffee futures contracts. Learn more about what will be different and what we know here.

Travel through Sidama, Yirgacheffe, Guji, and Gedeo to meet producers, visit washing stations, and learn more about Ethiopian coffee production.

Alrighty, here’s our SCA ‘25 Roundup: The official list of Cafe Imports’ happenings at and around the show in Houston this year!

Learn more about current US tariffs and their impact. We’ll be updating this blog as changes occur.