04/15/2025

The Beanless Coffee Race has Begun

Companies are working to develop a suitable alternative to traditional coffee

The cost of coffee continues to rise and consumers are feeling the heat. Ground coffee hit a record high of over $7 a pound in March, up from $4 in January 2020. Coffee is a delicate crop that grows in very specific conditions, and upward movement on prices has been driven by increasingly volatile climate patterns.

Since the U.S. grows very little coffee domestically and is the world’s biggest importer of coffee, those prices will likely only keep rising as a casualty of Trump’s trade war. 

Cost-conscious coffee drinkers are of course seeking relief—whether by brewing at home, cutting back on the java, switching to other caffeinated beverages or even bringing their own oat milk to the coffee shop to save on the upcharge. The latter is a viral hack making the rounds on social media. 

Please select this link to read the complete article from Inc.