Pricey pours.
A recent study has uncovered the most expensive states in America to grab a cup of coffee — and New Yorkers may be shocked to learn that the Empire State doesn’t even come close to cracking 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 included the national average for regular tea is $3.74, $5.14 for a cold brew and $5.46 for a latte in 2024.
Toast — a restaurant point of sale and management system — compiled and analyzed data for cafes and restaurants that use its platform to find the most expensive states in the country to buy a cup of coffee in 2024.
1. Hawaii
Hawaii is by far the most expensive place in the country to buy coffee.
The average price for a regular cup of java is $4.98 — a whopping 59% higher than the national average in 2024, according to the study.
The Aloha State also has the most expensive prices for coffee alternatives, on average, with $4.92 for a regular cup of tea, $6.29 for a cold brew, and $6.96 for a latte.
2. California
The Golden State was the second-most expensive, at $3.88 for a regular cup of joe — 26% higher than the national average.
In 2024, an average cup of tea in California costs $4.72, $6.19 for a cold brew and $5.84 for a latte.
3. Washington
Washington State averages $3.69 for a regular cup of coffee, which is about 19% higher than the nationwide average in 2024.
The average cup of tea in the Evergreen State will run someone $4.24, $5.38 for a cold brew, and $5.45 for a latte.
4. Arizona
In the Copper State, 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 for a regular cup of coffee in Massachusetts is $3.49 — just over 13% greater than the average cup of java across 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.
Honorable mentions
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, with an average of $2.12 for a regular coffee— 31% lower than the national average.
Following suit at the bottom of the list are Montana (49th), Kansas (48th), North Dakota (47th), and West Virginia (46th), which all average around $2.56 to $2.65 per cup of coffee in 2024.
The primary reason coffee and other caffeinated beverages have been rising in price is erratic weather patterns that have affected harvests in countries like Vietnam — the second-largest producer and exporter of coffee beans behind Brazil.
A months-long drought in Vietnam has hindered the country’s harvest of robusta coffee beans, which are primarily used in espresso and instant coffee.
Since the 2023-2024 harvest took place in October, Vietnamese robusta coffee farmers have failed to deliver 150,000-200,000 tons of contracted beans.
With weaker harvests in Vietnam, farmers have had a harder time growing their crops, and exporters have struggled to source supply, triggering higher costs for coffee-loving consumers.
However, data from the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that coffee prices (roasted and instant) were down about 2.5% in May compared to the same month last year in America.
