Bill Elliot, a Chico, Calif., resident, typically enjoys his morning espresso at home. “I have a nice espresso machine at home and I make my own every morning,” Elliot said. However, during a weekend trip to Reno with his wife, Nicole, he decided to indulge. “When I’m on vacation, I’m not really worried about the price,” he said. Yet, coffee enthusiasts nationwide have noticed a rise in their favorite beverage’s cost, a change attributed to President Trump’s tariffs announced in April.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has pointed to these tariffs as the cause of a significant price increase. “We have seen prices increase… 40% year-over-year,” she said. In response, Sen. Cortez Masto introduced the No Coffee Tax Act, aiming to revert coffee tariffs to 0%, as they were before Trump took office. With 99.9% of U.S. coffee beans imported, primarily from Brazil, the country has faced a 50% tariff under the current policy.
Local businesses, like Hub Coffee Roasters in northern Nevada, are feeling the impact. Owner Mark Trujillo reported raising prices by 30 to 60%. “Now all of a sudden, the costs of everything to run our business have gone up, and that is a direct correlation to these tariffs,” Trujillo said.
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On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the legality of the administration’s tariff policy. President Trump emphasized the significance of the case, stating, “Without being able to use tariffs freely, openly, and in every way, we are really suffering tremendously from a national security standpoint.” The court has expedited the case, with a final decision expected in the coming weeks.
