The price of coffee has doubled

[Bristlecone]

Many staple items have become more expensive in the last year. We are told by the current administration that it is not true, and anything BUT tariffs. Before, one of the primary drivers was the cost of fuel; Supposedly. Now with the cost of fuel going down, prices are still going up; Rapidly.

One example (albeit personal and perhaps anecdotal to those reading this) is the price of coffee.

I drink a rather common, middle to bottom of the shelf brand called Cafe Bustelo. I started drinking it because it was lower in price than many of the popular corporate brands out there i.e. Peet’s, Seattle’s Best, Starbucks, etc., and it is really a nice dark espresso grind, which works well for pour over.

In 2024, the price at my local re-branded Kroger super was “Price Locked” at $4.99. It slowly crept to “Price Locked” at $5.99, then $6.99, etc.

It is now set at $9.99 for 10 oz. With the occasional buy 5 and get it for $5.99 or $6.99.

I try not to do math in public, and I am not showing my work to get credit, but $4.99 in 2024, increasing to $9.99 in 2026 is a tiny bit more than double.

I also recently read an article (can find the link if anyone is interested) which explained the reason coffee has increased recently, citing climate in coffee regions, demand, etc. It went on to provide ideas for how one might adjust one’s lifestyle and patterns in order to accommodate this increase.

What struck me was that, while those things may be true, I am being soft shoed into doing without, or doing with less, and effectively told how to live with the fact that prices are now just high. Too bad. What I have yet to see however is info linking corporate greed aka: record profits, bonus, or idiotic tariff policies to my beloved coffee’s exorbitant spend. (Sen Warren probably has something if I were to look deeper)

When Joe Biden was President, I heard about the price of eggs on a daily cadence. Shouted from the rooftops by everyone. I saw stickers on gas pumps with Joe Biden pointing at the price line quoting “I did that.” The politicians on the right got out and pounded home the messaging that prices have gotten out of hand, and elect them to bring the cost of living down on Day One. The end result of that messaging is the misery we have with us today. And egg prices are still too high, as is everything else. Sorta crickets.

While I admit I cannot possibly keep up with all of the messaging that our liberal politicians put out there, I do pay attention and I do take note. What I do not hear enough of is the banging on the drum about the cost of goods.

It is likely being drowned in the mire of ICE, Epstein, Greenland, Venezuela, Racist tweets, and all the other insanity that distracts us from the core of my now long winded and borderline rambling post.

But I’ve decided that I am going to start to develop my own subtle messaging, and drop it in the ear of anyone that I think will listen. Even those that don’t think they are listening, but hear.

Little things like: “Man, stuff is still getting more expensive” to someone near me in the grocery store. And walk away. Not engage, just drop the notion as if talking to myself and walk.

When I am at Home Depot, or Ace (I do a lot around the house and yard myself) drop “boy, it seems like just a couple of years ago I bought another one of these and it was like 1/2 the price” then keep moving.

I’m sure I can come up with plenty of others as I go, but I invite you to perhaps offer similar messaging in your own day to day. Nothing political, just point out the obvious, and move on. Let reality sink in on its own. If the seed sprouts, and I think it will, they will come to the idea on their own. In fact, reinforce what they were probably already thinking. And that reinforcement is powerful. Get them to really ask themselves “why is that?” It won’t do it for everyone, but I’d bet for most.

If I can perhaps make a small difference in this way it’s worth it. Maybe even collectively make a medium difference if others to do the same.

Give it a try with me if it makes sense in your community.

Anyhow, thanks for reading. I’m going to go make a cup of tea. Coffee’s too expensive.