Coffee Futures Hit Record High, Yet China Keeps Buying: African Beans Become the “Hard Currency” of the Market
Recently, Arabica coffee futures on the New York market hit a historic record of $4.36 per pound , with a single-day surge of nearly 4% . While the global coffee market fell into cautious observation amid skyrocketing prices, China’s market showed a striking contrast—coffee traders in Beijing, Shanghai, and Jiangsu kept purchasing large volumes of Ethiopian beans , with some popular varieties even facing shortages. This phenomenon of “buying more as prices rise” isn’t simply fueled by enthusiasm—it’s a result of intertwined factors: supply-demand dynamics, cost management, and consumer traffic . 01 Buying More Despite the Price Hike: Four Core Drivers The global price surge has done little to dampen China’s purchasing appetite, which is supported by four key forces . As of August 2025 , China had 288,000 café and beverage outlets , with freshly brewed coffee shops accounting for over 60% . In emerging first-tier cities, store counts grew 18% year-over-year , and coffee now c...