There are many ways we see the impacts of climate change around the world, such as hotter summers, colder winters, more extreme weather events, sea level rise and more. But climate change is likely beginning to affect other parts of your life, including that beloved cup of coffee. 

If you stop into Hyperion Coffee in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor, Michigan, you may come across a flyer about coffee costs, explaining the reasons prices are increasing. One of the top factors? Climate change. The flyer states that “fluctuating temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns are reshaping where coffee can be cultivated, while also reducing the yields of many coffee farmers.” There are, of course, other reasons for price changes, including increased labor costs, rising farmer expenses, community investments and a commitment to quality and sustainability. 

Dan Kubera, one of the co-founders of Hyperion, a local roaster specializing in single-origin coffees and direct trade relationships, says they made the flyer to be transparent about upcoming increases, describing the importance of communication with both wholesale and retail customers amidst global challenges. 

He explains that the price and supply of labor, transportation, tariffs, farming inputs and stock market speculation are all playing a significant role in the rising prices of green coffee, which has more than doubled in a short period and is the highest Hyperion has seen since its opening in 2015.

“We aligned our pricing changes with the arrival of fresh-crop coffees purchased at higher prices than the previous year,” says Kubera. He noted that Hyperion did absorb some of the increases, “especially for coffees that arrived early in 2025, before officially adjusting prices across the board.”

So, how is climate change affecting coffee crops? “Climate change has led to volatile and unpredictable weather patterns. Drought, frost, heavy rains and seasonal shifts have damaged yields and limited coffee supply, particularly in major producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam,” Kubera says. 

Mistimed rains, for example, can lead to early flowering and uneven ripening, which reduces the quality and volume of harvests, making it more appropriate for commercial-grade coffee instead of specialty coffee, but the lower prices for commercial-grade coffee also reduce farmer income, which is something that Kubera says Hyperion will not let happen. 

Hyperion prides itself on its relationship with small farmers and producers. In the informational flyer, they discuss core values, including ensuring that producers are fairly compensated. “We aim to see our partners thrive, which in turn enables them to reinvest in their families, communities, farm improvements and processing innovations,” it reads. 

Locally grown products are also starting to experience the detriments of climate change. Michigan has long been known for its cherry production, and is the leading producer of tart cherries. In 2024, damaged cherry crops, both sweet and tart, resulted in growers losing up to 75% of their crops, which prompted Governor Gretchen Whitmer to send a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture about the natural disaster, citing significant increased rainfall, high insect populations due to mild winters, rapid fungi development and more.

While the price increases can be attributed to multiple factors, a changing climate will most definitely continue to contribute to the rise, and the consequences should give us all pause and renewed energy to continue tackling climate change.