Inflation is taking a toll on New Yorkers, especially when it comes to their daily coffee fix.
Prices at coffee carts are on the rise as vendors grapple with escalating supply costs. This has left many regulars—commuters and tourists alike—feeling the pinch in their wallets.
These iconic carts, found all over midtown Manhattan, have been some of the last affordable options for coffee in the city. However, many have increased prices by about 50 cents lately, pushing small cup prices from $1.50 to $2.00 and large cups from $2.00 to $2.50, as noted by both vendors and customers.
Vendors around popular areas like Rockefeller Center and Times Square attribute these hikes to inflation and tariffs, warning that the situation could escalate into a serious crisis for coffee carts.
“Everything is getting more expensive,” said Aziz Changezi, who has been in the coffee business for two decades at his cart in Midtown. He pointed out that the price of a 3-pound container of Kirkland Columbia coffee has jumped from less than $10 in 2020 to more than $22 in 2026.
At Changezi’s stand on 47th Street, prices are rising: small coffees have gone from $1.50 to $1.75, while large coffees are now $2.50, up from $2.00.
Originally from Mongolia, Changezi started his business in 2004 and has only increased coffee prices by a dollar in all these years. He argues that despite the hikes, his prices are still cheaper than those at chain coffee shops. But he understands that the sticker shock might force some New Yorkers to rethink their morning coffee routine.
“You might have to make your own coffee at home in the morning,” remarked Dror Bikel, a 61-year-old divorce lawyer living in Manhattan. He had hoped prices would drop under the current administration, but it appears they’re heading in the opposite direction.
“Everything’s going up in price—not just coffee,” he added. “I try to limit myself to one drink. Maybe I’ll just start making it at home.”
Another customer, George Sierra, who commutes from Long Island, echoed these sentiments. He mentioned the difficulty of managing expenses: “I try to have just one drink; I might just do it at home.”
Meanwhile, a Saks Fifth Avenue employee, named Lu, called the price increases “ridiculous.” When asked about his coffee purchases, he admitted, “I don’t buy it anymore. It’s just cheaper to make it at home.”
On a broader scale, federal data suggests that Midtown’s coffee pricing woes are part of a nationwide trend. The price of 100% roasted coffee in the U.S. has surged from $4.10 in January 2020 to over $9 by January 2026, marking a staggering increase of 124% since 2020.
Tariffs, particularly those imposed by the previous administration that affected major coffee exports, have contributed to these rising costs. Although some tariffs have been lifted, a 10% charge on Colombian coffee remains in place.
Long-standing issues in the supply chain, including droughts in South America, continue to compound the situation. Olivia Vargas, a coffee cart owner, explained that her prices began rising last March due to both inflation and proposed tariffs on Colombian coffee. “We have to pay more because we import it,” she said.
Now, a cup of coffee at Vargas’ Park Avenue cart has gone from $1.50 to $2.00, but she’s noticed a significant drop in sales since the increase.
“With fewer sales, I’ve had to cut back on my income,” Vargas shared. “We used to buy enough food for two days, but now it’s just enough for one.”
John Sater, running a food cart on Sixth Street for two decades, hasn’t changed his prices yet, but with bean costs having doubled, he anticipates a price hike soon. “I really don’t want to raise prices, but I might have to,” he confessed, concerned he could lose local workers who rely on affordable options.
Sater, originally from Afghanistan, mentioned he would likely need to set small coffee prices at $2, noting, “People can hardly afford even small amounts these days. Nothing feels the same as it used to.”
