Over the past year, the U.S. coffee market has experienced one of the most turbulent stretches in nearly two decades. Between global supply shortages, sharp increases in soft-commodity futures, and a series of steep U.S. tariffs on imported coffee, roasters across the country have faced intense and unpredictable challenges.
Today, we are finally able to share genuinely positive news: clarity around tariffs, stability beginning to return, and a meaningful step forward for the coffees that define who we are.
Brazilian Coffee Is Now Tariff-Free
Earlier this week, the U.S. government lifted all punitive tariffs on Brazilian coffee, bringing Brazil’s effective tariff rate back to 0%. This includes:
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The 10% reciprocity tariff announced earlier this month
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The 40% punitive tariff that had been in place for most of 2025
Brazil is now fully tariff-free again.
This shift is significant. Brazil has historically represented more than half of the coffees used in our blends. When the punitive tariff landed, we had to reformulate our entire core lineup in just four weeks. It was the most dramatic and fast-moving change we have ever made as a company.
Now, with Brazil restored to 0%, we can begin returning to the anchor coffees that shape Tectonic’s signature flavor profile.
A New Container of Brazil Is Already on the Way
The moment the tariff change became official, we moved quickly.
We have contracted 240 bags of Brazilian coffee—a full container—scheduled to arrive in March. While global prices are still up roughly 35% from the start of the year, the stability created by removing tariffs makes these coffees viable again.
Once the coffees land and pass QC, Brazil will begin reappearing in blends such as:
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Drift
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Shift
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Shockwave
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Seismic
This will bring back the familiar cocoa-and-nut sweetness that so many of you know and love.
Some Origins Are Still Under Tariff
While Brazil is now clear, several origins remain under tariff until we work through our existing inventories:
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Peru (currently replacing Honduras La Tanairi) - approximately 6 months remaining
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Costa Rica
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Colombia
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Honduras
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A handful of smaller lots
Only coffees containing these tariffed components carry a temporary tariff surcharge, affecting a limited portion of our product line.
Projected Timeline:
We expect Tectonic Coffee to be fully tariff-free by late May or early June 2026.
Why Prices Will Not Drop Immediately
Even with tariff relief, the global coffee market remains at historically high levels. Coffee futures have climbed more than 35% year-to-date, and many analysts anticipate continued volatility.
Tariff removal is meaningful, but it does not erase the underlying cost pressures affecting roasters across the industry.
Still, this is the first real relief we have seen in months, and it moves us closer to long-term stability.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
Through every twist and turn of this past year, our priorities have stayed constant:
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Roast exceptional coffee
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Maintain transparency
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Protect quality
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Communicate honestly
We will continue to update you as new coffees arrive, blends shift, and tariffs unwind.
Thank you for standing with us through an unpredictable and transformative year. Brighter days—and better coffees—are on the horizon.