Virginians are shelling out more for coffee
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You're not imagining it, your morning cup of Joe is pricier today than it was a year ago, per new Toast data shared with Axios.
Why it matters: Coffee is among many commodities affected both by general inflation and the Trump administration's import tariffs.
- Coffee plants are also vulnerable to extreme weather tied to climate change, including droughts and heat waves.
By the numbers: The median cost of a regular cup of coffee in Virginia hit $3.48 this past August, Toast says, up 7.1% from the same time last year.
- Median cold brew costs hit $5.16, up 3.2% for the period.
- That is compared with general inflation of around 2.9%.
- Nationwide, the average cup of Joe hit $3.52, up 2.9%, while cold brew came in at $5.47, up 4.6%.
How it works: These prices are based on restaurants using the point of sale technology from Toast.
Yes, but: The granddaddy of coffee shops, Starbucks, uses a custom point of sale system.
- Their price for a Grande drip — at least at the Robinson Street store — is $2.95, or $3.35 with tax, per an Axios review.
What we're watching: The Trump administration has recently opened the door to lower tariffs on coffee and other items, Axios' Ben Berkowitz reports, but that's dependent on dealmaking with other countries.