Coffee Prices in the United States Reach Their Highest Levels in Decades
Dubai – Qahwa World
Coffee has become significantly more expensive across the United States, even after the recent removal of tariffs on imported beans. Shoppers continue to encounter elevated prices in supermarkets and cafés, raising questions about the reasons behind this sustained increase.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average retail price of roasted coffee rose from $6.47 to $9.14 per pound in the 12 months leading up to September, an increase of roughly 41%. The nearly $3 jump is far steeper than the typical price fluctuations seen during volatile market periods, making the rise particularly notable to consumers.
The impact is evident on store shelves. A TikTok video posted in August drew attention to the rising cost of large containers of Maxwell House coffee at Walmart stores, where a 38.2-ounce tub reached $21.44 after nearly doubling in price within a year. The post struck a chord with many viewers who shared similar experiences with rising grocery bills.
Other major brands, such as Nespresso and Folgers, have also raised prices over the past year. Café prices have continued in the same direction: according to data tracked by the restaurant-software company Toast, the average price of a regular cup of coffee increased from $3.46 to $3.57 in the year ending October 2025.
Industry analysts describe this period as one of the most pronounced and sustained increases in coffee prices since the early 1980s, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics began monitoring retail coffee trends. Several major factors lie behind the surge:
• Weather-related disruptions in 2024, including drought and heavy rainfall in key producing regions such as Brazil and Vietnam, significantly affected yields.
• Coffee futures climbed sharply, rising from around $2 per pound in May 2024 to approximately $4 in April 2025, increasing the cost burden on importers and roasters.
• Tariffs introduced by the U.S. government in April 2025 added further pressure, with 10% duties placed on imports from several Latin American countries, about 20% on Asian suppliers, and a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee.
During the period in which tariffs were applied, average retail prices rose by roughly 21%. In mid-November, the U.S. administration began rolling back these trade measures. Duties were removed for nearly all producing countries, and the remaining 40% tariff on Brazilian coffee was lifted shortly afterward, effectively ending the tariff structure for most major exporters.
Experts expect that it will take time for changes in import and wholesale prices to filter through to retail shelves, since consumer pricing tends to lag behind market adjustments. Still, the removal of tariffs is broadly seen as a step toward easing cost pressures in the months ahead.
