Coffee theft is on the rise in the United States as the cost of coffee reaches all-time highs. In February, coffee futures spiked in New York City by 6% on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), exceeding $4.30 per pound. This surge in coffee prices has led to an increase in theft, with organized gangs stealing beans by the truckload.
According to Todd Costley, a logistic sales coordinator for Hartley Transportation, there have been dozens of thefts in the past year, a trend that was rare in the past. These thieves often pose as transportation companies to obtain the beans, targeting smaller contracts from importers with cheaper pricing. The stolen trucks can carry up to 44,000 pounds of coffee, valued at around $180,000. Once the thieves have the coffee, they disappear without a trace.
While coffee theft may be a newer issue in the U.S., it is a long-standing problem in coffee-growing regions around the world. In Uganda and Kenya, professional thieves have targeted coffee farms, stealing beans with precision and speed. In Brazil and Vietnam, the two largest coffee-producing nations, thefts typically occur at farms following a harvest. In one instance, thieves stole an estimated $230,000 worth of coffee from a farm in Brazil.
Despite a slight decrease in coffee futures trading, the outlook for the coffee industry remains challenging. Drought followed by heavy rains in Brazil and Vietnam is expected to impact harvests, while the demand for coffee continues to rise. According to the National Coffee Association, the number of American adults consuming coffee daily has increased by 37% between 2004 and 2024, indicating a growing market for the popular beverage. As the industry grapples with rising costs and theft, stakeholders are working to address these challenges and ensure a sustainable future for coffee production.
