US Coffee Prices Jump 47% Over Five Years

Coffee prices witnessed sharp increases across the United States, forcing a growing segment of consumers to reconsider their daily routines, as mounting living costs collide with soaring beverage prices, according to a report by CNN.

The latest Consumer Price Index data shows coffee prices rose 18.3% in January compared with the same month last year. Over a five-year period, prices have surged by nearly 47%, marking one of the steepest sustained increases for the culturally entrenched commodity.

The sustained spike is reshaping consumption patterns. Some Americans are cutting back on café visits, others are switching to lower-cost alternatives, while a portion are abandoning coffee altogether.

For many, the once-habitual stop at premium coffee shops has given way to brewing at home, a practical shift aimed at controlling discretionary spending. In several states, the average price of a cup of coffee at cafés has climbed to levels that compel consumers to reassess everyday priorities.

Independent cafés and small businesses reliant on coffee sales are also feeling the strain. Rising raw material costs have compressed profit margins, forcing some operators to raise menu prices while others absorb part of the burden to remain competitive.

The pressure is partly linked to trade policies that previously imposed tariffs on green coffee imports from major producing countries. Although some of those duties were later revised, their ripple effects continue to influence import costs and domestic pricing structures.