The Royal Blog
Coffee News
Education + Resources
Crown Jewels
The Crown
Green Coffee Tariff Updates & Customer FAQs
Updated November 20, 2025 TL; DR On Nov 20 2025, the U.S. signed an order that removes the 40% additional duty on certain Brazilian agricultural imports, including coffee. The relief is effective for goods entered/withdrawn for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov 13, 2025. Tariffs on...
Royal Coffee 2025 Holiday Ordering Info
Dear Royal Coffee Customer, As the busy holiday season approaches, we want to help you prepare for successful shipments. During the holiday season, carriers always experience higher than normal volume, and driver and dock staffing shortages tend to accumulate. We have seen recent delays due to...
What Does the Supreme Court Tariff Hearing Mean for Coffee?
The Supreme Court’s recent hearing on the IEEPA tariffs signals skepticism about presidential trade powers but no quick relief for importers. Refunds appear off the table, and tariff risk, especially for Brazil, remains high. Here’s what Royal Coffee’s CEO took away from the arguments.
Excerpt: Additive Fermentation: “Infused” Coffee is Gaining Popularity and Sparking Industry Debate”
Co-fermented coffee is a new processing approach where producers add natural ingredients like fruit, hops, or spices during fermentation to enhance flavor complexity. Unlike flavored coffee, these additives interact with the beans before drying, creating unique taste profiles while sparking debate over labeling, transparency, and authenticity within the specialty coffee industry.
Coffee Market Update: Backwardation and What It Means for Roasters
The global coffee market has entered uncharted territory. Tight inventories, Brazil tariffs, and U.S.–Colombia trade tensions are pushing C-market prices higher and sustaining extreme backwardation. Learn what it means for roasters and buyers.
Indonesian Coffee Cultivars and Varieties
By Evan Gilman With contributions from Surip Mawardi, Tovan Marhennatta, Chris Kornman Indonesian Coffee Cultivars and Varieties Coffee’s cultivated history on the world’s largest archipelagic state, and fourth-most-populous country, dates as early as 1699, introduced by Dutch...
Celebrating 30 Years of Royal New York
We are proud to celebrate an important milestone for our sister company, Royal New York. For 30 years, they have been a trusted partner in specialty coffee and tea, known for their dedication to quality, service, and education. Coffee, Tea, and The Lab Royal New York operates across three...
Market Update: Brazil Rains Shift Coffee Prices
Article Summary: Coffee futures plunged. The sharpest drop in 17 years with arabica down 7.6% and robusta down 10% as rains return to Brazil. Improved weather may boost the 2026 crop, but short-term volatility remains. U.S. imports from Brazil are falling while Vietnam’s shipments surge. Freight...
Are All Green Coffees the Same? Factors That Affect Their Flavor
Explore July 2025 Crown Jewel coffee arrivals from Sumatra, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and more. Bold flavors, innovative processing, and standout producers.
Understanding Coffee Acidity: What It Is and Why It Matters
Article Summary: Coffee acidity describes flavor brightness. Most brews sit near 5.5 pH. Acidity comes from organic acids in green coffee and changes through roasting: lighter roasts retain fruity malic and citric acids, while darker roasts break them down into bitter quinic and caffeic acids....
Current Coffee Market Outlook: Brazil Frost, Tariffs & Spot Scarcity
Article Summary: Global coffee markets face major uncertainty driven by Brazil’s August frost, 50% U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports, and ongoing spot coffee scarcity. The frost’s full impact on the 2026 harvest remains unknown, heightening volatility. Tariffs have inflated costs and redirected...
Why Coffee Origins Matter: Flavor, History & Global Impact
written by Isabella Vitaliano, Lab and QC Specialist Article Summary: Coffee origin shapes cup profile, availability, pricing, and storytelling. Knowing country context helps buyers match flavor goals and manage risk. South America: Brazil dominates supply ~40% (65M bags, 2024), wide quality...
Red Velvet Underground Assume Nothing Drink Recipe
By Katie Briggs "Assume Nothing!" A mantra for The Crown as we worked towards opening our doors in March of 2019, the phrase became a Menu section, encouraging our visitors to drop their preconceptions and be open to new and delicious experiences. And now it's the title of a drink recipe series,...
Brazil Weather Update
Editor's Note August 19th: StoneX estimates frost losses at about 424,000 bags in Cerrado Mineiro, with damage across roughly 3.9% of the region’s area. That figure could climb even where leaves look fine: cold at this stage can trigger flower bud drop, cutting future yield. We saw this after the...
Empowering Women at Origin: Ethiopia
By Lauren Cropper, Junior Trader & Certifications Manager, with Caitlin McCarthy-Garcia, Trader Article Summary: Royal Coffee highlights two women-led Ethiopian exporters, Ephtah and Dumerso, that are transforming the country’s coffee industry through equity, quality, and community impact....