NYC Coffee Crisis: Tariffs Brew Trouble for Local Cafes
<img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2025/09/17/nyregion/17nytoday/17nytoday-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale" alt="A man stands with a cup of coffee in a coffee shop." >Coffee prices in NYC have skyrocketed by almost 21 percent, largely due to tariffs imposed on major coffee exporters like Brazil and Vietnam. This has left many local coffee shops struggling to maintain their profit margins.
The Impact on Businesses
While some cafes have opted to increase prices for bags of coffee, many are hesitant to raise the cost of individual cups. Maintaining affordability for customers is a priority, even if it means accepting lower profits.
"The price of green coffee is going up industrywide, and roasters and retailers are having to adjust. I just don’t want to squeeze people any more than we have to." - James Veltri, owner of Solid State Coffee
This situation highlights the challenges faced by small businesses in absorbing the impact of global economic fluctuations.
Beyond Tariffs: Other Contributing Factors
The price increases aren't solely attributed to tariffs. Droughts in coffee-growing regions and supply chain disruptions (like a ship carrying Ethiopian coffee being hit by a missile) have exacerbated the problem, making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead.
"It’s a situation no one wants to be in. What we’re seeing is a lot of people waiting to raise prices. Everyone is trying to be the last one to do it." - Sam Klein, green coffee buyer for Partners
The uncertainty surrounding tariffs, with frequent changes in rates, further complicates the situation for businesses attempting to manage costs.
NYC's Rat War: A New Strategy
Meanwhile, New York City is deploying new trash containers in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods as part of its ongoing fight against rats. The initiative aims to reduce the amount of garbage on sidewalks, thus limiting food sources for rats. Early results in Harlem suggest this strategy is successful.
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