NextFin news, On Thursday, September 11, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing that coffee prices in the United States have surged 20.9 percent compared to the same time last year, marking the largest increase since the 1990s. This sharp rise is attributed in part to President Donald Trump’s tariffs imposed on major coffee-producing countries Brazil and Vietnam.
The Consumer Price Index data revealed that coffee prices rose 3.6 percent in August alone. The tariffs, which include a 50 percent levy on Brazilian coffee imports and 20 percent on Vietnamese imports, have significantly increased the cost of importing green coffee beans into the U.S.
Prior to the tariffs, coffee companies were already facing supply challenges due to droughts in Brazil and Vietnam, which pushed global coffee prices higher. Many companies initially absorbed the additional costs from the blanket 10 percent tariff imposed in April 2025, but the steeper tariffs on Brazil and Vietnam have forced roasteries and coffee shops to raise prices.
Corvo Coffee, a coffee shop in New York City, recently increased the price of a drip coffee from $2.50 to $3.75, citing rising costs and tariffs as the reason. The shop communicated to customers that the price adjustment was necessary to maintain quality and reliability.
These tariffs are part of President Trump’s broader trade policy, which has introduced volatility and higher costs for U.S. importers. The tariffs on Brazil and Vietnam, two of the world’s largest coffee exporters, have had a direct impact on retail coffee prices across the country.
Ben Casselman contributed to the reporting. The original report was published by The New York Times and written by Sydney Ember, a business reporter covering the U.S. economy and labor market.
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