The article highlights the significant increase in coffee prices faced by consumers and businesses due to a combination of factors, including adverse weather conditions, growing demand in markets like China, underpayment of farmers leading to unsustainable practices, and upcoming regulations in Europe against deforested land. These factors have led to a situation where coffee shops and roasters are forced to raise prices, with some shifting to cheaper components or alternatives like tea to retain customers. Smaller businesses are particularly affected, with larger companies like Starbucks able to mitigate the impact by locking in prices in advance. The situation has also led to concerns about fraudulent coffee brands cutting costs with impurities and a rise in interest in alternative coffee products and brewing at home.