A Note From Jeff Abella, CEO & Co-founder of Moka
Transparency is at the heart of everything we do at Moka, so let’s talk openly about how these three dynamics are affecting both us and you.
Over the past 12 months, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to 8 countries to meet with hundreds of our incredible farming partners around the world. For the past 19 years, I’ve dedicated myself to building genuine relationships with farmers across Africa—bonds that go far beyond transactional partnerships. These are lasting friendships!
Tariffs, cocoa, and coffee prices are dominating the headlines. For us, this is deeply personal. At Moka, we source beans directly, plant 100,000+ trees each year, and run farmer workshops at our farm in Cameroon.
How are Tariffs and Beans Prices Shaping Our Year? Well I'm glad you asked!
TL;DR:
Moka is in a moment of explosive growth, but we’re feeling the squeeze. Cocoa prices in 2025 have skyrocketed, coffee supply chains are strained, and now U.S. tariffs on imported cacao and coffee beans are piling on. While we’ve absorbed as much as we can, you may notice modest price increases on our website. Still, we’re doing everything possible to hold pricing steady so we can keep growing. Our mission is to support famers by buying ethical beans at scale by selling exceptional products nationally.
First Of All, What Is Happening?
These challenges aren’t unique to us. Many small businesses in the chocolate and coffee industry are feeling the ripple effects of cocoa market volatility, rising coffee prices, and new U.S. tariffs on essential imports.
In the last 18 months, cocoa prices have surged more than 400%. Coffee prices have also jumped. Meanwhile, new tariffs on imported ingredients and equipment have added another layer of complexity and cost. For a company built on ethically sourced, high-quality beans and cocoa, these are significant hurdles.
How Does It Affect Moka?
While tariffs on imported cocoa and coffee aren’t crippling, they are costly. Still, the real pressure comes from the unpredictable swings in the cocoa and coffee markets. We are also expanding our U.S. operations by buying specialized equipment that comes from abroad. Meanwhile we are trying our best to keep pricing stable for you.
Our Response: Relationships Over Reactions
One thing that sets Moka apart is our close, long-standing partnerships with farmers and suppliers. Many of these relationships span over a decade, built on trust, honesty, and shared values. They’ve allowed us to weather uncertainty without shortcuts or blame.
It’s not easy. It’s been scary. There have been nights when I’ve shed tears. But mutual respect and patience have gotten us here—and they’ll carry us forward as we grow Moka into a national brand.
Why Prices Are Changing: A Closer Look at the Three Biggest Factors
We want to keep you in the loop about what’s really driving shifts in coffee and chocolate pricing:
1. Cocoa Prices Have Skyrocketed by Over 400%
From around $2,500 per ton in 2023 to over $12,000 in 2025, cocoa prices have exploded.
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Demand Keeps Growing: Especially in emerging markets across Central America and Africa.
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Climate Is Taking a Toll: Cacao is sensitive to extreme weather, pests, and disease—all of which are getting worse.
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Rising Production Costs: Farmers have been underpaid for far too long and we hope that this increase is a lasting change.
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Market Volatility: Big buyers are hoarding large quantities, adding fuel to the speculative fire.
2. Coffee Prices Are Spiking—and Fast
Coffee faces its own set of challenges:
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Climate Change: Arabica thrives in cool, high-altitude climates—spaces that are shrinking.
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Supply Chain Strains: Labor shortages, shipping delays, and rising freight costs compound the issue.
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Political Instability: Unrest in coffee-exporting regions has disrupted logistics.
Through it all, we remain committed to sourcing ethically and standing by our farming partners.
3. Tariffs Are Now Hitting Our Imports
This one stings: cacao and coffee don’t grow commercially in the continental U.S., yet new tariffs are being applied to both beans and chocolate-making equipment.
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No Local Option: We can't “buy American” when the ingredients we need don’t grow here.
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Added Costs: These import taxes make it more expensive to do what we love—without offering a real alternative.
Looking Ahead at Our Product Pricing
At Moka, our mission hasn’t changed. We’re here to deliver exceptional products while staying true to our values. However, as you may have noticed on our website, we’ve had to make some modest pricing adjustments. For our retail partners who buy in bulk, we’ve also begun conversations around pricing updates to ensure our business remains sustainable.
Thank you for standing with us—your support makes everything we do possible.
