New U.S. import tariffs are set to make coffee more expensive, and not just for beans from Brazil. Under the latest policy, most imports now face a 10% baseline tariff, with some countries hit with rates as high as 50%. Since the United States imports 99% of its coffee, these costs will affect green beans, roasted coffee, brewing equipment, and packaging. Even Kenyan coffee, though not targeted with the highest rates, is subject to the new 10% tariff, which means higher prices for roasters and consumers.
What Are Tariffs and Why Do They Matter for Coffee?
Tariffs are taxes imposed by governments on imported goods. These charges are often meant to protect local industries or retaliate against unfair trade practices. But in the global coffee trade — where coffee beans, grinders, presses, and mugs often cross multiple borders
— tariffs can quickly become a financial burden that trickles down to the consumer.
How Tariffs Affect Coffee Prices
Historically, green (unroasted) coffee beans entered the U.S. tariff-free, helping roasters keep prices down. The new tariffs now add costs to many imports, including green beans, roasted, decaffeinated, and flavored coffee.
These increases, even if small by percentage, push up retail prices for imported roasted coffee, instant coffee, and specialty blends packaged overseas.
Tariffs may feel like a distant trade policy issue, but they can directly influence the price you pay for your daily cup of coffee.
Beyond the Beans: Equipment and Packaging
Tariffs are only one factor in rising coffee prices, alongside climate change, labor costs, shipping rates, and currency shifts. But because coffee depends on long global supply chains, tariffs can intensify other price pressures.
Your beans may be grown tariff-free, yet the equipment, packaging, and specialty roasts you enjoy could all cost more when trade policies change.
- Brewing equipment s — Tariffs on electronic components from certain countries have added to the price of coffee grinders, espresso machines, and brewing accessories.
- Packaging materials — including recyclable aluminum, compostable paper, and biodegradable plastics — often come from overseas. Tariffs on these materials make sustainable packaging more expensive.
These costs are often passed down the chain — from manufacturers to distributors, from roasters to retailers, and finally to the consumer. This means you're not just paying for the coffee inside your bag — you're also paying more for the packaging, the tools to brew it, and even the logistics required to get it from our farms in Kenya to your doorstep in the U.S.
Read also: Environmental, Economic, and Global Factors Driving Up Coffee Prices in 2025
Tariffs are just one factor driving coffee prices, but their impact can ripple through the global supply chain — raising costs for equipment, packaging, and specialty roasts, even if the beans themselves remain tariff-free.
How Tariffs Affect Small vs. Large Coffee Businesses
Large multinational coffee brands often have more resources to absorb tariff-related cost increases. They may offset higher import costs by negotiating bulk shipping rates or shifting production to lower-tariff regions.
Small-batch roasters and independent coffee businesses, however, operate with narrower margins. Even a modest tariff increase on packaging or equipment can impact their ability to maintain prices, invest in sustainability projects, or expand their offerings. For many, this means choosing between raising prices, reducing quality, or delaying innovation.
What This Means for Coffee Drinkers
When tariffs raise the cost of any element in the coffee supply chain, such as beans, equipment, or packaging, the extra expense usually appears in the retail price. For coffee drinkers, this can mean:
Paying more for roasted coffee sourced or packaged overseas
Higher prices for coffee accessories and brewing equipment
Slower adoption of sustainable packaging options
How to Reduce the Impact
Buy directly from brands like Solai Coffee to avoid third-party markups.
Invest in durable brewing gear to reduce replacement costs.
Support sustainable and fair-trade brands to keep ethical supply chains alive.
Stay informed — tariff changes can be sudden.
Consider coffee subscription plans to lock in fair pricing.
FAQ: Tariffs and Your Coffee
Coffee prices are influenced by climate and weather conditions, supply and demand, labor costs, shipping expenses, currency exchange rates, and tariffs or trade policies.
Yes. Tariffs apply to green (unroasted), roasted, decaffeinated, and instant coffee depending on the origin country. The rules also affect specialty roasts packaged overseas.
Yes. While U.S. green coffee beans were once largely tariff-free, current policy changes mean some origins now face higher import duties. Even small increases can ripple through the supply chain and raise retail prices.
It depends on the product and the tariff rate. For specialty coffee, even a 10–50% increase at the import stage can translate into $3–$10 more per bag on store shelves.
Importers pay tariffs when coffee shipments clear U.S. customs. These extra costs are usually passed to roasters, then to retailers, and finally to you, the coffee drinker.
Small-batch roasters have less capacity to absorb higher import costs. Tariffs on packaging or equipment can lead to price increases, reduced quality, or slowed innovation.
Yes. Tariffs on stainless steel, aluminum, electronic components, or imported packaging materials can make espresso machines, grinders, and eco-friendly packaging more expensive.
How Will Tariffs Affect Coffee? Key Facts You Should Know