Tariffs force coffee shops in Williamsport to raise prices

WILLIAMSPORT, Md. (DC News Now) — Retail coffee prices in the U.S. have jumped by 21%, according to the latest consumer price index.

That’s the highest price hike in 14 years, according to the National Coffee Association.

The reason is due to tariffs. The U.S. relies on foreign countries, like Brazil, for beans. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee.

In Williamsport, coffee bean importer and roaster Craig Campbell said those high wholesale costs will have to be passed on to his customers at River Bottom Roasters.

“We’ve had to raise coffee prices by about a nickel or 10 cents a cup,” Campbell said. “If we see this 50% increase from Brazil, you could see prices spike by 25 cents a cup.”

Campbell said that, unlike many products imported from abroad, there is no region in the continental United States suitable for growing coffee beans to compete with the popular commodity shipped from countries with favorable growing conditions.