Soaring Coffee Prices Disrupt Americans' Daily Routines

Consumers cut back on cafe visits and switch to cheaper brews as coffee prices rise sharply.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Years of steadily climbing coffee prices have led some Americans to upend their daily coffee habits, with people nixing cafe visits, switching to cheaper brews, or forgoing coffee altogether. Supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs imposed by former President Trump have contributed to the price increases, which have been exacerbated by climate issues affecting coffee crop yields globally.

Why it matters

Coffee is an indispensable part of the daily routine for many Americans, with two-thirds of the population drinking it daily. The soaring prices are forcing some consumers to make difficult choices, whether it's cutting back on cafe visits, switching to less expensive home-brewed coffee, or giving up coffee altogether, which can impact their daily routines and habits.

The details

Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January 2026 from a year earlier, with prices rising 47% over the past five years. This has led some consumers to take extraordinary measures, such as Chandra Donelson from Washington, D.C., who gave up her daily McDonald's coffee habit, and Liz Sweeney from Boise, Idaho, who cut her coffee consumption from three cups a day to one. Others, like Sharon Cooksey from Greensboro, North Carolina, have switched to brewing coffee at home to save money.

  • Coffee prices in the U.S. were up 18.3% in January 2026 from a year ago.
  • Over the past five 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 McDonald's coffee habit due to rising prices.

Liz Sweeney

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

Sharon Cooksey

A 55-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina who switched from visiting Starbucks most weekday mornings to brewing 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

“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 coffee prices have forced many Americans to rethink their daily coffee habits, leading some to cut back on cafe visits, switch to cheaper home-brewed options, or even give up coffee altogether. This shift in consumer behavior highlights the significant impact that rising costs can have on deeply ingrained daily routines and rituals.