Soaring Coffee Prices Upend Daily Routines for Some Americans

Consumers cut back on café visits and switch to cheaper brews as coffee costs rise nearly 50% in 5 years.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Years of steadily climbing coffee prices have led some Americans to upend their daily coffee habits, with some nixing café visits, switching to cheaper brews, or even giving up coffee altogether. The 47% rise in coffee prices over the past five years has forced consumers like Chandra Donelson and Liz Sweeney to make tough choices, trading their beloved café drinks for homemade or cheaper alternatives.

Why it matters

Coffee is a deeply ingrained part of the daily routine for millions of Americans, so the soaring prices are forcing many to rethink their habits. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the broader impact of inflation on household budgets and the lengths people will go to save money on essentials like their morning cup of joe.

The details

The median price of a regular hot coffee in the U.S. climbed to $3.61 in December, with cold brews reaching a median of $5.55. Virtually all coffee consumed in the U.S. is imported, and climate issues like drought and heavy rain in major coffee-producing regions have reduced global yields and driven up prices. Consumers like Liz Sweeney and Dan DeBaun have responded by cutting back on café visits and switching to cheaper, homemade coffee options.

  • Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January 2026 from a year prior.
  • Over the past 5 years, coffee prices in the U.S. rose 47%.

The players

Chandra Donelson

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

Liz Sweeney

A 50-year-old from Boise, Idaho who has cut her coffee consumption from three cups a day to one as prices have climbed.

Dan DeBaun

A 34-year-old from Minnetonka, Minnesota who has trimmed back on coffee shop visits and now brews his own coffee at home to save money.

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What they’re saying

“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

The takeaway

The soaring cost of coffee has forced many Americans to rethink their daily routines, trading beloved café drinks for cheaper homemade options. This shift highlights the broader impact of inflation on household budgets and the willingness of consumers to adapt their habits to save money on essential items.