** Shares of U.S. coffee chain operators climb after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signals tariff cuts on coffee
** Starbucks SBUX.O up about 3% at $88.95, Dutch Bros BROS.N up 5.3% at $59.01
** Bessent said Americans would see "substantial announcements" in coming days aimed at lowering the prices of products like coffee, bananas and other items not grown in the U.S.
** SBUX said late month its margins took a hit from surging coffee bean costs
** Global prices for raw arabica beans have jumped more than a fifth this year following a 70% surge in 2024, hit by supply snags due to President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on top grower Brazil as well as climate issues
** Up to last close, Starbucks shares down 3.5% YTD; Dutch Bros up 12% YTD
(Reporting by Tharuniyaa Lakshmi in Bengaluru)
((tharuniyaa@thomsonreuters.com))