Pricey pours.
A new study has found the most expensive states in America to grab a cup of coffee — and New Yorkers may be surprised to learn that the Empire State doesn’t even make the top 10.
In 2004, the national average was just $2.15 for a regular cup of coffee, according to a new report from Toast.
However, the average American now pays $3.08 for a regular cup of coffee – a 43% increase in 20 years.
The data includes a national average of $3.74 for regular tea, $5.14 for an iced drink and $5.46 for a latte in 2024.
Toast – a point of sale and restaurant management system – compiled and analyzed data for cafes and restaurants that use the platform to find the most expensive countries in the country to buy a cup of coffee in 2024.
1. Hawaii
Hawaii is the most expensive place in the country to buy coffee.
The average price for a regular cup of java is $4.98 – 59% higher than the national average in 2024, according to the study.
Aloha State also has the most expensive prices for coffee alternatives, on average, with $4.92 for a cup of regular tea, $6.29 for a cold brew, and $6.96 for a latte.
2. California
The Golden State is the second most expensive, at $3.88 for a regular cup of joe — 26% higher than the national average.
In 2024, the average cup of tea in California will cost $4.72, $6.19 for an iced drink and $5.84 for a latte.
3. Washington
Washington State average $3.69 for a regular cup of coffee, which is about 19% higher than the national average in 2024.
The average cup of tea in the Evergreen State will run people $4.24, $5.38 for a cold brew, and $5.45 for a latte.
4. Arizona
In the Copper Country, the average price for a cup of joe is $3.51 — about 14% higher than the national average.
Arizonans will also pay an average of $4.02 for a cup of tea, $5.51 for a cold brew, and $5.59 for a latte.
5. Massachusetts
The average cost of a regular cup of coffee in Massachusetts is $3.49 – just over 13% more than the average cup of java in America.
Those looking for other alternatives to coffee in the Bay State will pay, on average, $3.91 for a cup of tea, $4.97 for a cold brew, and $5.35 for a latte.
Name it noble
The average cup of coffee in New York costs $3.24, making it the 16th most expensive state, according to the report.
Connecticut has the 11th highest cost per cup of coffee in the nation, and it is neck-and-neck with New Jersey (12th), with both states averaging $3.31 a cup.
Nebraska has the lowest cost per cup of joe in America, averaging $2.12 for a regular coffee- 31% lower than the national average.
At the bottom of the list are Montana (49th), Kansas (48th), North Dakota (47th), and West Virginia (46th), which will average $2.56 to $2.65 per cup of coffee in 2024.
The main reason the price of coffee and other caffeinated beverages is rising is erratic weather patterns that affect crops in countries like Vietnam – the second largest producer and exporter of coffee beans behind Brazil.
Months of drought in Vietnam have hampered the country’s harvest of robusta coffee beans, which are mainly used in espresso and instant coffee.
Since the 2023-2024 harvest took place in October, Vietnamese robusta coffee farmers have failed to deliver the contracted 150,000-200,000 tons of beans.
With a weaker harvest in Vietnam, farmers are having a tougher time planting crops, and exporters are struggling to source, leading to higher costs for coffee-loving consumers.
However, data from the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the price of coffee (roasted and instant) fell by about 2.5% in May compared to the same month last year in America.
