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How to invest in coffee

3 ways to jolt your portfolio with this ubiquitous — though volatile — commodity.

Coffee is the second-most-traded commodity in the world after crude oil. Integrated into our daily routines, it’s a staple on countless street corners — and global demand has increased considerably in recent years. But it can be a complex, nuanced and volatile commodity. To maximize your returns, do your research on how and where it’s grown while understanding inherent investment risks associated with your daily bean.

Each of the three investment options available for this tangible commodity comes with risk, given you’re taking a bet as to how much coffee will sell for.

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1. Buy coffee ETFs.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a type of investment made up of a collection of commodities, equities, bonds or currencies, allowing for diversification across an entire industry by tracking its overall success.
Commodity-based coffee ETFs operate with an arbitrage mechanism designed to allow investors to directly track the performance of the coffee market as a whole.
Only one ETF that is exclusively invested in coffee is currently available:

  • iPath Dow Jones-UBS Coffee Subindex Total Return ETN (JO), which tracks an index of futures contracts on the price of coffee.

Pros

  • Instant diversification across the coffee industry.
  • Investments come at a low price, with lower risk than stocks in a single company.
  • Single transaction adds an entire market to a portfolio.
  • Simple, low-maintenance way to invest.

Cons

  • The collection is decided for you, meaning you relinquish some of your control.
  • Though diverse, ETFs are not immune to volatility.

2. Buy shares in coffee companies.

Another option for investing in the coffee industry is purchasing stock in a company that sells or is involved in the production of this commodity, though coffee growers and importers are much more fragmented than some other commodities. Investing in more than one company is a safer option than putting all your eggs in one basket. Another way to reduce your risk is by buying stock in a company that sells coffee in addition to other products. In the case of coffee, the industry leaders for coffee sales include ubiquitous brands like:

Shares of stock are a simple way to access the market, because you can purchase them through an online broker or financial advisor.

Pros

  • Build and tailor your own portfolio.
  • Simple and accessible investing.

Cons

  • Unpredictable growing and manufacturing factors make for volatile stocks and prices.
  • Risk of losing your investment can be high.

3. Purchase coffee futures.

Futures are one of the most direct ways to trade a commodity, though they’re traded on different exchanges than stocks are, so you’ll need a brokerage account that supports futures trading and you’ll probably access a different part of your trading platform than you would with stocks or options. When you purchase a future, you buy a contract to purchase a commodity — in this case coffee — at a future date at a specified price. These contracts come with an expiration date.
Investing in coffee futures essentially means betting on what the coffee will sell for at a specific date and place. For instance, the Coffee C contract offers trades five times a year and covers bean deliveries from 19 countries. Each contract is for 37,000 pounds of coffee — not a small investment. Those who grow coffee beans or buy coffee beans can use futures to lock in prices, but futures can also be traded by investors and speculators.
Futures can be extremely volatile and are far riskier than other investment options. They also offer the greatest potential return if you get the timing and price movement right to see a profit on your investment.

Pros

  • Because of lot size, small price moves of as little as 1% can mean strong gains.
  • Investing is simple and accessible.

Cons

  • Futures are volatile — you can’t predict with certainty how prices will fluctuate.
  • Risk of losing your investment is high, as small moves against you can spell big losses.
  • Failure to exercise futures prior to expiration renders them worthless.

Compare these providers for access to coffee ETFs and more

1 - 12 of 12
Product Finder Score Available asset types Stock trade fee Minimum deposit Key features Offer
SoFi Wealth Management logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Alternatives
$0
$0
  • Invest, bank, borrow and more
  • SoFi Plus benefits
  • Taxable and retirement accounts
For a limited time, get up to $2,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&C apply.
OPTO logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
  • Discover emerging trends
  • Invest by theme
  • Design your own stock index
Earn up to $300 when you deposit between $2,000–$25,000+.
Zacks Trade logo
Finder score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, CDs
$0.01
$250
  • Low margin rates
  • Customizable trading platforms
  • Professional trading tools
Get up to $1,000 when you open and fund an account. Terms apply.
Interactive Brokers logo
Finder score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills
$0
$0
  • Active and robo investing
  • Global market access
  • Professional trading tools
Tastytrade logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Treasury Bills
$0
$0
  • Real-time market insights
  • Live educational shows
  • Professional trading tools
Get $50-$5,000 when you open and fund an account with $2,000 to $1,000,000+
Robinhood logo
Finder score
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures
$0
$0
  • Get up to 3% in IRA match with Gold
  • Get 4% APY on cash with Gold
  • Active trading tools
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account.
Public logo
Finder score
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Alternatives, Retirement, Treasury Bills, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
  • Lock in a 6.8% bond account yield
  • Earn rebates on options trades
  • Earn 4.1% APY on your cash
Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public.
Acorns logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
  • Invest spare change
  • Get a 3% IRA contribution match
  • Invest and bank
Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5).
Stash Investments LLC logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
  • Invest and bank
  • Active and robo investing
  • Invest spare change
Get $10 when you sign up and deposit $5.
Wealthfront logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$500
  • Earn 4% APY on your cash
  • Active and robo investing
  • Automated bond investing
Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500.
JPMorgan logo
Finder score
Mutual funds, ETFs
$0
$25,000
  • Personalized financial planning
  • Get an expert-built portfolio
  • Ongoing advice
M1 Finance logo
Finder score
Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0
$100
  • Earn 4% APY on your cash
  • Active investing with automated tools
  • Low margin rates
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on nine different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

What are the risks of investing in coffee?

The price of coffee fluctuates depending on a range of factors, many of which are out of our control, resulting in a volatile and unpredictable commodity:

  • Weather conditions in the countries producing the coffee.
  • Economic and political factors affecting coffee-producing countries.
  • Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
  • Changing trade regulations and restrictions.
  • Changes in the supply and demand of coffee.
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  • Special 30-day risk-free trial for $9.95.
  • Accurate assessments of the value of 16,000+ stocks.
  • Get daily buy, hold or sell ratings based on real-time market trends.
  • Get expert insights, webinars and analysis to help you improve your investing skills.

Bottom line

You can invest in coffee by purchasing coffee ETFs, stock in coffee companies or coffee futures. But the price of your daily bean can be unpredictable given growing and manufacturing variables.
Before purchasing this commodity, compare your investing options across trading platforms and other tangible goods.

Frequently asked questions

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

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