Ground coffee averaged $9.32 per pound in US cities in July 2026, up 10.7% from $8.41 a year earlier and up 52% from $6.12 in January 2024, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. July is the third straight monthly decline from the series peak of $9.72 in April 2026. This page tracks the verifiable coffee price numbers: the BLS retail series, the global price backdrop, and what a latte's ingredients actually cost, each cited at the number.
TL;DR: the five headline coffee price statistics for 2026
- US average price of ground roast coffee: $9.32 per lb in July 2026 (BLS series APU0000717311, pulled via the BLS public API on August 15, 2026).
- That is up 52% from $6.12 per lb in January 2024, but down 4.2% from the series peak of $9.72 in April 2026 (same series).
- Green coffee prices fell 25% in the seven months to July 2026 as new supply arrived, measured by the ICO monthly composite price index (USDA FAS, July 2026).
- World ending stocks are forecast to rise for a second consecutive year to 26.3 million bags in 2026/27, which is the supply story behind the fall (USDA FAS).
- The latte's other inputs in July 2026: whole milk $4.31 per gallon (BLS series APU0000709112), sugar $1.02 per lb (APU0000715211).
The BLS ground coffee series
Series APU0000717311 tracks the US city average price of 100% ground roast coffee, all sizes, per pound (BLS Average Price Data; we pulled the series via the BLS public API on August 15, 2026). The run-up was steady and steep, and it has now turned:
| Month | US average, ground coffee per lb |
|---|---|
| January 2024 | $6.12 |
| July 2024 | $6.31 |
| January 2025 | $7.02 |
| July 2025 | $8.41 |
| September 2025 | $9.14 |
| January 2026 | $9.37 |
| April 2026 (series peak) | $9.72 |
| May 2026 | $9.51 |
| June 2026 | $9.46 |
| July 2026 (latest) | $9.32 |
Three honest footnotes. First, October 2025 is blank in the official series, marked "data unavailable due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations." Second, the shelf price has fallen three months running from the April 2026 peak, a total of 41 cents, which is the first sustained decline since the run-up began. Third, that is still 52% above January 2024, so a falling series is not a cheap series.
Why prices climbed, and why they are easing
USDA's July 2026 world coffee report (Coffee: World Markets and Trade) forecasts world production up 10.8 million bags to a record 189.7 million 60-kg bags in 2026/27, driven by a record Brazilian harvest of 71.9 million bags as Arabica rebounds from a five-year run of weather damage. World ending stocks are forecast to rise for a second consecutive year to 26.3 million bags, though USDA notes they remain below the long-term average.
The price effect is already in the data. USDA states that coffee prices dropped 25 percent in the last seven months as additional supplies became available, measured by the International Coffee Organization's monthly composite price index. Green coffee moves first and the shelf follows with a lag, which is what the three-month decline in the BLS series looks like. USDA's next coffee circular is scheduled for December 16, 2026.
What a cafe drink's ingredients cost
We do not republish "average latte price" figures because none of the circulating ones trace to a published methodology. What is verifiable is the ingredient math. In July 2026 the BLS average prices were $9.32 per lb for ground coffee, $4.31 per gallon for whole milk (series APU0000709112), and $1.02 per lb for sugar (series APU0000715211), all from BLS Average Price Data (series pages linked above). Note that milk went the other way this summer: it is up from $4.22 in May 2026 while coffee fell. Our coffee cost calculator and the latte-at-home cost breakdown run those numbers drink by drink; they are our own calculations on BLS inputs and are free to cite with attribution. For the yearly view, see what a coffee habit costs per year.
How to cite this page
Suggested citation: "Coffee price statistics 2026, Barista Life (baristalife.co), reviewed August 15, 2026. https://baristalife.co/blogs/blog/coffee-price-statistics-2026"
Quote any statistic here with attribution and a link to Barista Life, and credit BLS or USDA as the underlying source where linked.
Related data
The other statistics pages in this series: coffee statistics, caffeine statistics, coffee shop industry statistics, barista employment statistics, espresso machine statistics, decaf statistics, energy drink statistics. Every citable page and dataset on the site is indexed at data and citations.
Related reading
- Coffee statistics 2026: the flagship roundup
- Coffee shop industry statistics 2026
- Barista employment statistics 2026
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Gear from this guide
FAQ
How much does a pound of coffee cost in 2026? $9.32 on average for ground roast coffee in US cities in July 2026, per BLS Average Price Data series APU0000717311, down from the April 2026 peak of $9.72.
Are coffee prices going down? At retail, yes, slightly: the BLS series has fallen three months running from $9.72 in April 2026 to $9.32 in July 2026. Green coffee fell further and faster, down 25% in seven months on the ICO composite index per USDA.
Why is coffee still expensive? Because the fall started from a record high. July 2026 is 52% above January 2024. World stocks are rebuilding for a second year to a forecast 26.3 million bags, but USDA says they are still below the long-term average.
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Last reviewed: August 15, 2026. Price data: BLS Average Price Data through July 2026; global data: USDA FAS July 2026. Information, not financial advice.
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