The global rise in living costs has led to a demand for cheaper coffee, particularly robusta beans, which are used in instant coffee and espresso mixes. However, a shortage of these beans, driven by high demand and production challenges in key countries like Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia, has led to a significant increase in wholesale prices, reaching a twelve-year high this week. This has resulted in a nearly 20% increase in retail prices for instant coffee in Germany and a slower price growth in the US. Despite a slight slowdown in bean inflation, the global robusta shortage is expected to persist, exacerbated by farmers shifting their attention to more profitable crops due to increased fertilizer costs.