Why Coffee Farmers Struggle Today — And How Coffee Tree Adoption Helps

Be honest for a moment.

When was the last time you drank coffee?

For most of us, it was probably this morning. Maybe even a few minutes ago. Coffee wakes us up, comforts us, keeps us moving. It is so deeply woven into our daily lives that we rarely stop to think about where it comes from.

But beyond the warm mug in your hands lies a story most people never hear.

A story of farmers who wake up before sunrise.
A story of aging hands picking cherries from trees planted decades ago.
A story of an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars, built on the fragile livelihoods of people who barely make enough to survive.

This is the real story behind coffee.

A Global Industry Built on Unequal Ground

Coffee is everywhere. It is one of the most consumed products on Earth and one of the most traded commodities in the world.

In 2020 alone, the global coffee industry moved over $450 billion.

Yet the countries that grow coffee — the places where the soil, climate, altitude, and labor make coffee possible — are not the ones earning the most money.

Latin America produces nearly 70% of the world’s coffee. Countries like Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam, Honduras, and Ethiopia lead global production. Colombia alone supports more than 540,000 coffee-farming families.

And yet, when it comes to profits, the biggest winners are often countries that don’t grow a single coffee tree.

Switzerland, Germany, and Italy rank among the world’s top coffee exporters.

How is that possible?

Where the Value Really Lives

The coffee picked in Colombia does not arrive in your cup the way it leaves the farm.

Raw coffee cherries are harvested, washed, dried, hulled, sorted, shipped, roasted, packaged, branded, and marketed. Each step adds value — and each step moves further away from the farmer.

By the time coffee reaches a supermarket shelf or a capsule machine, its price has multiplied many times over.

The farmer, however, is usually paid only for the raw bean, not for the brand, not for the experience, not for the final product.

It’s like selling cotton straight from the field while someone else turns it into clothing, builds a brand, and earns the profit.

This is why a country like Switzerland can earn more from coffee exports than Colombia, despite Colombia producing millions of bags of coffee each year.

The Reality for Small Coffee Farmers

Behind the romantic images of coffee farms lies a harsh reality.

Around 25 million small coffee farmers exist worldwide. Nearly 80% live below the poverty line.

Most are family farmers with small plots of land — often around 2,000 coffee trees. In a good year, those trees might produce around 2 tons of coffee.

When global prices are high, that farmer might earn around $10,000 for an entire year of work.

Sounds reasonable — until you look closer.

Production costs (labor, fertilizers, maintenance, transport) can easily reach $4,000 or more. That leaves a slim margin, even in a “good” year.

And when prices fall?

In bad years, farmers may earn $5,000 or less, sometimes not even covering their costs. They don’t just lose profit — they lose stability, security, and hope.

But the most painful truth is this:

Farmers don’t sell at fair prices.
They sell at the price offered — or they don’t eat.

Why Farmers Can’t Just “Wait for a Better Price”

People often ask:
“Why don’t farmers hold their coffee and wait until prices go up?”

The answer is simple — and heartbreaking.

Most small farmers live day to day.

They don’t have savings. They don’t have access to affordable loans. Many don’t calculate profitability because survival doesn’t allow for planning.

Coffee must be sold to pay for food, school, medicine, and labor. If a buyer offers a price, they accept it — good or bad.

Not because they want to.
Because they have no choice.

An Aging Industry at Risk

There is another quiet crisis threatening coffee’s future.

Most coffee farmers today are older generations.

Young people are leaving rural areas. They don’t see a future in farming. They see instability, low income, and hard labor with no guarantees.

And who can blame them?

If this continues, one uncomfortable truth looms ahead:

One day, we may not have coffee at all.

Why My Little Coffee Tree Exists

My Little Coffee Tree was born from these realities.

The idea is simple — but powerful.

Instead of depending entirely on unpredictable market prices, farmers receive a stable, guaranteed income through coffee tree adoption.

For just $1 per month, supporters help ensure that farmers:

• Can plan their harvest

• Can calculate profitability

• Are not forced to sell at loss

• Can pass farming knowledge to the next generation

This isn’t charity.
It’s stability.

It’s dignity.

It’s a future where coffee farming makes sense again — economically and socially.

More Than Coffee — It’s About People

Every adopted tree represents more than coffee.

It represents:

• A farmer who can breathe a little easier

• A family that doesn’t have to pray for market prices

• A reason for younger generations to stay connected to the land

• A future where coffee remains sustainable

When you adopt a coffee tree, you’re not just supporting a farm.

You’re standing with the people who make your mornings possible.

The Next Time You Drink Coffee

The next time you lift a cup to your lips, pause for a second.

Think about the hands that planted the tree.
The years it took to grow.
The uncertainty behind every harvest.

Coffee is not just a beverage.

It is a story — and you can be part of changing how it ends.

👉 Adopt a coffee tree for just $1/month:

https://mylittlecoffeetree.com/adopt-a-coffee-tree

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Why do coffee farmers struggle financially?

Answer: Many coffee farmers struggle because they are paid only for raw coffee beans while most profits are made later through roasting, branding, and retail. Global price fluctuations and high production costs also make it difficult for small farmers to earn stable income.

Question: How does adopting a coffee tree help farmers?

Answer: Adopting a coffee tree provides predictable income for farmers, helping them maintain their farms, support their families, and invest in sustainable farming practices without relying solely on fluctuating coffee prices.

Question: How much do coffee farmers earn on average?

Answer: Small coffee farmers often earn less than $10,000 per year, and in poor market conditions, earnings can drop below production costs. This makes long-term planning and sustainability very difficult.

Question: How much does it cost to adopt a coffee tree?

Answer: Adopting a coffee tree costs just $1 per month, making it an affordable way to support coffee farmers and contribute to the long-term sustainability of coffee farming communities.

Question: What is coffee tree adoption?

Answer: Coffee tree adoption allows individuals to support farmers directly by contributing a small monthly amount toward the care of a specific coffee tree. This helps provide farmers with stable income outside volatile coffee market prices.

Question: Where are the coffee farms located?

Answer: The coffee trees supported through My Little Coffee Tree are grown on farms in Colombia, where coffee farming has been passed down through generations.