GROCERY BASKET PRICE INDEX
Latest data: June 2026 Released: July 14, 2026 Next update: August 12, 2026

Explainer

Why is coffee so expensive?

Coffee remains near record levels — $9.46 per pound, +16.3% versus a year ago — as global bean costs feed through to the shelf.

  • 1 min read
  • Updated June 2026
  • BLS-based
Quick answer

Coffee is near its highest price on record.

A pound of ground roast averages $9.46 — 3% below the April 2026 record and +16.3% versus last year.

+16% vs. a year ago

Where coffee prices stand

Coffee is expensive right now in the most literal sense: a pound of 100% ground roast averaged $9.46 in June 2026, +16.3% from a year ago and 3% below its record high of $9.72 set in April 2026.

What drives coffee prices

Retail coffee tracks the global price of green beans, which is driven by weather and harvests in a handful of producing countries — frost and drought in Brazil and supply pressure in Vietnam ripple through to the shelf with a lag. Because nearly all coffee sold in the U.S. is imported, there is no domestic cushion when those crops fall short, so the average price you see here reflects world supply more than local demand.

A real shelf price

This is the BLS average shelf price across U.S. retailers, recorded monthly since January 1980 — not a futures quote — so it shows what shoppers actually paid.

Illustration related to why is coffee so expensive?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pound of coffee cost?

Ground roast coffee averaged $9.46 per pound at the U.S. city average in June 2026, per BLS data.

Why are coffee prices rising?

Coffee is +16.3% year over year. Prices follow global green-bean costs set by weather and harvests in major producers like Brazil and Vietnam; almost all U.S. coffee is imported.

Is coffee at a record high?

As of June 2026 coffee is about 3% below its record high of $9.72 (April 2026).

Sources and methodology

Reviewed June 2026 · Source data is independently analyzed by Basket Report and does not imply BLS endorsement.

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See the full price history and how coffee tracks global bean costs.

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