NEW ORLEANS — The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the Pontchartrain Center this weekend, where baristas, farmers, and enthusiasts gathered for the annual NOLA Coffee Fest. But amid the celebration of coffee culture, rising prices cast a shadow over the industry.

“Coffee is part of everyday life,” Said Andy Whitehead, Co-Founder of Fig Brew. “You’re waking up, sitting on your front porch, planning your day — that’s what coffee is made for.”

Industry leaders say the cost of coffee beans has soared in the past year, leaving shops and consumers to absorb the hit.

“Coffee prices year over year have increased 80%, and that’s before the tariffs in Brazil went into effect,” Whitehead said. His company sells fig-based products that can be blended with coffee grounds, stretching supplies, a

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