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Yes—one U.S. retail measure of packaged ground coffee reached its highest reported level in the observations reviewed: the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) average was $9.723 per pound in April 2026. It had eased to $9.299 per pound by August. That does not mean every kind of coffee, or coffee-shop drinks, hit a record: the measure covers a specific grocery product, and the latest broad coffee inflation reading still showed prices 6.1% higher than a year earlier.
What the record price measures
The record refers to the BLS average price for regular-caffeine ground coffee sold in a can or plastic container, regardless of container size. In the observations reviewed through August 2026, the series reached $9.723 per pound in April 2026, its highest reported value. The August average for the same product specification was $9.299 per pound. These are U.S. city-average price observations, not a promise that every store charged those amounts. The BLS/FRED series description explains the product scope and cautions that average prices are most useful for measuring a particular month’s price level. The series also has gaps in historical observations, so the record claim applies to the observations available in that series, not every coffee price ever paid.
Are coffee prices coming down?
The ground-coffee average was lower in August than at its April peak, but that single product measure is not the same as inflation across the broader coffee category. In August 2026, the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) for coffee was 6.1% higher than in August 2025 and down 0.9% from July on an unadjusted basis. The seasonally adjusted monthly change was a 2.0% decline. A lower monthly reading means prices fell over that month on the relevant index; it does not erase the increase over the previous year. See the BLS August 2026 CPI release.
Why coffee price figures differ
“Coffee prices” can refer to different products and measures. A per-pound average is a price level for one defined grocery product; CPI measures price change across a category; a cafe price is a restaurant transaction; and a coffee futures quote reflects commodity-market trading. They answer different questions, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.
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| Measure | What it covers | Latest or relevant figure |
|---|---|---|
| BLS average price | U.S. city average for regular-caffeine ground coffee in a can or plastic container, any size | $9.723 per pound in April 2026; $9.299 in August 2026. BLS/FRED |
| BLS CPI: coffee | Broad U.S. consumer coffee category; percentage change, not dollars per pound | 6.1% higher year over year in August 2026; -0.9% month over month unadjusted. BLS |
| BLS CPI subcategories | Roasted and instant coffee price changes, separately | Roasted coffee: +4.9% year over year; instant coffee: +11.0% in August 2026. BLS |
| Restaurant transactions | Median U.S. cafe prices reported from Toast data, not grocery prices | $3.61 for regular hot coffee and $5.55 for cold brew in December 2025, reported by AP in February 2026. AP |
| Arabica Coffee C futures | Global commodity-market benchmark, not the shelf price paid by U.S. shoppers | Rose 85.6% from 216.00 to 400.75 U.S. cents per pound between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025; the USDA report gives a mid-February 2025 peak of 425.10 cents. USDA FAS |
Why coffee prices rose
Global supply pressures helped push up coffee markets. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s 2025 Coffee Annual: Ethiopia describes adverse weather, especially drought in Brazil and Vietnam, reducing supply from major producing and exporting countries while global demand increased. Its futures figures show how sharply the upstream Arabica market moved; futures are not retail prices and do not pass through one-for-one to grocery shelves.
“This surge was largely driven by unfavorable weather conditions, mainly droughts in Brazil and Vietnam, which significantly reduced coffee supply from these key producing and exporting countries despite increase in global demand.”
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An Associated Press report in February 2026 also described weather-related crop pressures, including drought in Vietnam, heavy rain in Indonesia, and hot, dry conditions in Brazil. It noted that tariffs affected some coffee imports in 2025 but were later removed. Tariffs were therefore a dated additional factor, not a sufficient explanation for the continuing price level. The AP report also notes that virtually all coffee consumed in the United States is imported. AP report
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What higher prices mean for household budgets
The grocery record is a useful signal, but it cannot tell you what your household’s coffee bill will be: package size, brand, store, and whether you buy ground, instant, or drinks away from home all affect what you pay. For context, the broader coffee CPI was up 18.3% year over year in January 2026, according to AP’s February report; that is an earlier snapshot, not the latest inflation rate. The same report said coffee prices were 47% higher over five years at that point.
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- INTENSITY AND ROAST: With a 5/10 intensity, this fragrant medium roast offers a sweet and aromatic finish
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AP described some consumers cutting cafe visits, buying ground coffee to make at home, carrying it in a travel mug, or reducing how much coffee they drink. Those are reported individual examples, not a representative estimate of how commonly people change their habits or how much any one household can save. Compare your actual grocery and cafe spending before deciding whether a routine change suits your budget.
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- Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish
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- Shown as a serving suggestion
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
