Brewing Trouble: Tariffs Hit Your Morning Cup

Trump’s new 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee is already squeezing New York cafés. Brazil supplies one-third of U.S. coffee imports, so the costs land squarely on local businesses and their customers.

“These tariffs are not paid by the country. The costs are passed down to the business owner, and consumer,” said Antony Garrigues, managing partner of Stone Street Café. “For now, we are going to try and absorb as much [of] the cost as we can. But at the end of the day, this is a business – so we may have to increase the prices.”

For small shops with razor-thin margins, absorbing the cost can only last so long. That means your daily latte may soon come with a higher price tag—not because the beans taste better, but because trade policy is brewing in Washington.

That’s why we’re urging small businesses to sign our letter and join us in DC for lobby days, Sept. 17–18, to make sure these voices are heard.