BBC News, Washington DC
BBCThe price of a cup of coffee in the US is increasing as Tariff squeezed the local cafes and bakery owners.
Some American businesses say that queues for morning latte are already decreasing as customers tighten their belts and imported beans become more expensive.
US coffee spends $ 100BN (£ 76BN) a year on a year, although it may be changing.
George Prudenceo, who runs a bread byte bakery at Washington DC, says his Columbia -based coffee distributor increased prices after the wider tariffs were effective last week.
Most of the coffee is imported in the US.
In fact, according to the US Department of Agriculture, with a majority coming from Brazil and Colombia, coffee is the second major importer.
Since 5 April, 10% of American tariffs against most countries have affected coffee imports.
Talking to the BBC, Mr. Prudence said that his coffee suppliers have told him that his next order will still increase another price.
He said that his bakery “definitely” will increase prices for customers, even to break.
Asked if he was worried, Mr. Prudences said: “Of course.”
Kamal Morda, the manager of the AU Lit Cafe, said just below the road, he has been constantly looking at the impact of rising prices for some time. Inflation under the former US President Joe Biden reached a 40 -year high.
Before kicking the tariff, the ground coffee reached the most recorded price in March 2025, and one dollar was more expensive than the previous year, and $ 3 above March 2020 prices.
“We have fewer customers for coffee,” said Mr. Mortda.
He said, “Most customers only get plain coffee,” instead of adding syrup and milk, he said.
Menu prices have increased by 25% and people are now buying small coffee.
Mr. Mortada has also changed his habits as a consumer. Instead of his regular visit to Starbucks, he drinks coffee at home.
He said that he has increased the price of one cup of coffee by at least half the dollar, and is worried that prices will increase again.
Jenny NGOOn the opposite coast in San Francisco, the owner of another local coffee shop is struggling with what the tariff would mean for their business.
Jenny NGO, who runs a telescope coffee, said she was waiting to hear how much her roster prices would increase.
The coffee she sells is from Ethiopia and Guatemala, both standard is facing 10% tariffs. She also imports her iced coffee cup from China – and she said that she paid attention to prices on jumps overnight.
“We unfortunately projects to increase prices again to maintain our business,” he said.
Mr. Prudence is confident that people will still come to their shop and buy coffee. He said that this is the need of some people.
But recently inflation has also affected the price of eggs, which is important for its bakery side of business.
He said that he had paid $ 42 per case when the bakery was opened five months ago, but two weeks later it was more than $ 100 per case.
“Everyone is going through the same thing. We all pay the price.”
The price of eggs is a major symbol of the health of the American economy, often a debate point for politicians.
President Donald Trump has argued that he would get the cost of eggs, blaming the rising prices on the Biden administration, which shut down millions of eggs amidst a bird flu outbreak.
But in March, according to the Consumer Price Index, egg prices reached more than $ 6.22 per dozen per dozen records.
Joel Finkelstein runs a small business Qualia Coffee Roster at Washington DC, where he sells most of the coffee beans online and in farmers’ markets.
Tariffs will represent the latest in a series of value growth, he told us.
He said that he saw that the price of beans increases significantly after Trump holding the position and cutting the funding to USAID, which supported some coffee producers in South America. Now, he is expecting it to go up again.
“We are going to see a decrease in sales,” said Mr. Finklestin.
