HONOLULU (KHON2) — The United States is navigating rising tariffs and economic uncertainty, and some economists are drawing comparisons to Republican trade policies of the late 1920s and early 1930s.

These policies coincided with the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and worsened the onslaught of the Great Depression.

As prices for commodities like coffee continue to rise, consumers are seeking both traditional remedies and new solutions.

One such alternative to the rising price of coffee is something from Sudan known as excelsa coffee. It’s a climate-resilient species that offers a potential option as traditional coffee crops face increasing challenges.

Here’s what we know:

Why excelsa could be the future of coffee

1. It’s resistant to climate change. Unlike arabica and robusta coffee varieties, which suffer in rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall, excelsa’s deep roots, thick leaves and sturdy trunk allow it to withstand drought and heat.
2. It’s a more affordable and stable supply. As traditional coffee production declines due to climate stress, Brazil’s coffee output is expected to drop 12% this year. Prices have skyrocketed, and excelsa offers a way to diversify supply chains and stabilize costs.
3. It’s a market-ready alternative. Though it currently makes up less than 1% of global coffee production, excelsa is gaining interest from major buyers like Nespresso. This shows its potential to fill gaps in supply.
4. It’s a sweet, high-quality flavor. With chocolate, dark fruit and hazelnut notes, excelsa is less bitter than robusta and shares similarities with the premium taste of arabica. This makes it an attractive option for specialty coffee markets.
5. It’s an economic lifeline for struggling farmers. In South Sudan, where instability and poverty make economic opportunities scarce, excelsa farming offers a sustainable income source. If scaled up, the industry could inject $2 million into the economy by 2027.
6. The current challenges in scaling up availability. Despite its promise, excelsa faces hurdles such as poor infrastructure, high transportation costs and political instability in South Sudan. Farmers must also overcome frequent wildfires and limited farming resources.

You can read more about excelsa coffee here.

As climate change and inflation continue to squeeze traditional coffee production, excelsa presents a viable, climate-resilient alternative.

With the right investment and scaling, it could help stabilize coffee prices, protect supply chains and provide economic relief to struggling regions.

While excelsa coffee can be grown and cultivated in Hawaiʻi, few local farmers are familiar with the plant.