Coffee businesses Welcome Supreme Court Ruling on U.S Tariffs, But Refund Questions Loom
February 22 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
In a landmark 6–3 decision on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports, ruling that the executive branch overstepped its constitutional authority by bypassing Congress. The decision has been met with relief by U.S. coffee business owners, who have struggled for over a year with increased costs that eventually trickled down to consumers already weary of inflation.
The conservative-majority court found that President Trump violated federal law by using an emergency clause from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 50-year-old statute, to impose trade restrictions on major partners without congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority that the Constitution "very clearly" gives Congress the power to impose taxes, including tariffs, and that the "it did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch".
For the coffee industry, the ruling strikes down levies that had disrupted supply chains and forced roasters to make difficult choices. Roberto Torres, president of Tampa’s Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters, told local media he was forced to stop buying from major producers like Brazil and Mexico due to expensive tariffs, instead sourcing from countries with lesser duties such as Ecuador and Guatemala .
"It was striking because typically coffee is exempt from any form of tariff because we cannot grow coffee in the United States outside of Hawaii and Puerto Rico," Torres explained . He noted his company paid approximately $75,000 more last year due to the tariffs, forcing a 15% price increase for customers.
The financial strain extended beyond Tampa. In Milwaukee, Stone Creek Coffee paid an additional $270,000 on tariffs alone last year, while in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Ron Kurnik of Superior Coffee Roasting Co. described the ordeal as "like a nightmare we just want to wake up from".
The court noted that more than $130 billion was collected through the tariffs, though economists at the Yale Budget Lab suggest the figure could reach $175 billion . The question of refunds now hangs over the industry. While Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested importers may be entitled to their money back, he acknowledged that some costs may already have been passed to consumers, complicating any repayment process. Veteran trade lawyer Robert Leo insists refunds, while cumbersome, are manageable, as tariff records are computerized and customs agencies have signaled willingness to waive deadlines.
However, many business owners remain skeptical. Torres captured the sentiment of his peers when he stated, "The next step should be to get our money back". Yet with President Trump immediately announcing plans to impose a global 10% tariff under alternative legal authority, relief may prove temporary. For now, consumers and coffee shops alike are cautiously optimistic that their morning brew might soon become more affordable.