(10) Who Sets the Coffee Price—and Does It Cover the Cost?

If customers accept your price, but every sale makes you poorer, do you really have a business? Coffee pricing begins with understanding the cost of delivering one saleable unit—not the ideal output, but what can realistically be sold after losses, rejected products and delays. That cost should include labour, transport, packaging, maintenance, equipment replacement, unpaid time and relevant risks. Some costs change with each sale, while others continue even when production slows. But unit cost is not automatically the final price. Market prices show what buyers currently pay, while quality, reliability, timing, traceability and convenience may create additional value—if that value can be demonstrated. For farmers, knowing the cost may not guarantee a higher offer, but it reveals the gap between the market price and what a viable livelihood requires. Price is what the buyer pays. Cost is what the seller carries. A sustainable business must understand both. iO Sustainable Coffee | Respect the Bean. Respect the Hands.