Soaring Coffee Prices Reshape Americans' Daily Routines

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 some in this country of coffee lovers upending their habits by nixing café visits, switching to cheaper brews or foregoing it altogether. Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January from a year ago, and over five years, prices rose 47%. This extraordinary rise has brought some to take extraordinary measures, with consumers cutting back on coffee shop visits and switching to home-brewed or cheaper options.

Why it matters

The soaring cost of coffee, a daily ritual for many Americans, is forcing consumers to rethink their habits and spending. As the price of a cup of coffee at cafes has climbed to $5 or $6, some are scaling back visits or finding alternative caffeine sources to save money, impacting the broader coffee industry.

The details

Data shows the median price of a regular hot coffee in the U.S. climbed to $3.61 in December, with cold brews at $5.55. The rise in prices is attributed to climate issues reducing coffee crop yields globally, as well as the removal of some tariffs on coffee imports. Consumers are responding by brewing more coffee at home, switching to cheaper brands, or cutting back on coffee consumption altogether.

  • 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 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 climbed.

Dan DeBaun

A 34-year-old from Minnetonka, Minnesota who has trimmed back on coffee shop visits due to the increasing expense.

Sharon Cooksey

A 55-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina who switched from buying Starbucks at a café to brewing Lavazza coffee at home, which is about 40% cheaper.

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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'll be damned if it didn't taste so good.”

— Sharon Cooksey

The takeaway

The dramatic rise in coffee prices is forcing many Americans to rethink their daily coffee habits, with some cutting back on café visits, switching to cheaper home-brewed options, or even giving up coffee altogether. This shift in consumer behavior is having a significant impact on the broader coffee industry.