Soaring Coffee Prices Upend Some Americans' Daily Routines

Rising costs driven by supply chain issues and tariffs lead some coffee lovers to cut back or switch to cheaper brews.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Years of steadily climbing coffee prices have some in this country of coffee lovers upending their habits by nixing cafe visits, switching to cheaper brews or forgoing it altogether. Supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 lockdown and President Trump's since-suspended coffee tariffs contributed to the increase, as did climate issues affecting coffee crops globally. While coffee consumption remains steady overall, some Americans have scaled back their daily coffee runs or switched to home-brewing to save money.

Why it matters

Coffee is a deeply ingrained part of many Americans' daily routines, so the soaring prices are forcing some to make significant changes to their habits and budgets. This shift highlights the impact of global supply chain issues and trade policies on the everyday lives of consumers.

The details

Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January from a year ago, with a 47% increase over the past five years. This extraordinary rise has led some coffee drinkers to take extraordinary measures, such as nixing cafe visits, switching to cheaper home-brewed coffee, or forgoing coffee altogether. Factors like supply chain disruptions during the pandemic and President Trump's since-suspended coffee tariffs contributed to the price hikes, along with climate issues affecting coffee crops globally.

  • In January 2026, coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% from a year earlier.
  • Over the past five years, coffee prices in the U.S. have risen 47%.
  • President Trump suspended his coffee import tariffs in December.

The players

Chandra Donelson

A 35-year-old from Washington, D.C. who gave up her daily coffee habit due to rising prices.

Liz Sweeney

A 50-year-old from Boise, Idaho who has cut her coffee consumption as prices have climbed.

Dan DeBaun

A 34-year-old from Minnetonka, Minnesota who has curtailed his coffee shop visits due to the increasing expense as he and his wife save up for a house.

Sharon Cooksey

A 55-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina who has switched from buying caramel lattes at Starbucks to brewing cheaper coffee at home.

National Coffee Association

An organization that says its surveys show coffee consumption is broadly holding steady despite price hikes.

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What they’re saying

“I did that daily for years. I loved it. That was just my routine. And now it's not.”

— Chandra Donelson

“Before, I thought, there's no way I could make it through my day without coffee. Now my car's not on automatic pilot.”

— Liz Sweeney

“What used to be a $2 coffee, it's now $5, $6.”

— Dan DeBaun

“I can buy a bag of coffee for $6? It was like I had just discovered another world. The multiverse opened up to me in the coffee aisle of Publix.”

— Sharon Cooksey

“Twenty cents a cup compared to $7 or $8 a cup. The math just makes sense.”

— Chandra Donelson

The takeaway

The soaring cost of coffee is forcing some Americans to rethink their daily routines and habits, highlighting the impact of global supply chain issues and trade policies on consumers' everyday lives. While coffee consumption remains steady overall, the price hikes have led some to switch to cheaper home-brewed options or forgo their cafe visits altogether, underscoring the importance of coffee in many people's daily lives.