Belton Coffee Shop Owner Faces Rising Bean Prices

Wake N Brew owner Jonah Walker grapples with 50% increase in weekly coffee bean costs

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:51am

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The price of coffee beans has hit a record high, impacting small business owners like Jonah Walker, the owner of Wake N Brew coffee shop in Belton, Texas. Walker now pays $60 per week for coffee beans, up from $40 when he first opened his shop last September. While he wants to keep prices affordable for his customers, the rising costs are squeezing his profit margins.

Why it matters

The spike in coffee bean prices is being driven by global factors like tariffs and crop shortages, putting pressure on local coffee shop owners to either raise prices or absorb the increased costs. This story highlights the challenges small businesses face in maintaining affordability and profitability during times of economic volatility.

The details

Walker sources his coffee beans locally from Salado and his milk from the Hill Country, selling cups of coffee for an average of $6.50. However, the 50% increase in his weekly bean costs has forced him to consider raising prices, which could impact customer affordability. Walker is committed to keeping prices down, even if it means cutting into his own profit margins, in order to maintain his community-driven business model.

  • In September 2025, Walker opened Wake N Brew coffee shop in Belton.
  • In the past six months, the price Walker pays for coffee beans has increased from $40 to $60 per week.

The players

Jonah Walker

The owner of Wake N Brew coffee shop in Belton, Texas.

Analy Palacios

A customer of Wake N Brew who says coffee is now considered a luxury due to the rising costs.

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What they’re saying

“Coffee is at the highest it's ever been, and you know, that could, that could affect, you know, the price of how much I sell my coffee for. Um, but you know it's tough, but I feel like if you can get through this point in time, you can get through anything. So I'm just gonna, you know, be a soldier and keep pushing.”

— Jonah Walker, Owner, Wake N Brew

“It's more of like now it, it is considered a luxury to get coffee instead of being like, oh yeah, like we can just go get coffee like in an everyday sort of routine. Now it's like you get coffee, it's like you have extra money to spend instead of like, oh yeah, like, you know, we always get coffee because it's not an inconvenience or detrimental to my budget.”

— Analy Palacios, Customer

What’s next

Walker plans to continue sourcing his coffee beans and milk locally, even as he considers raising prices to maintain profitability. He remains committed to keeping his coffee affordable for the Belton community.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges small business owners face in maintaining affordability and profitability during times of economic volatility. As global factors drive up the cost of key inputs like coffee beans, local coffee shop owners must balance their desire to keep prices low for customers with the need to maintain their own bottom line.