When is coffee cheapest?

The best time to buy coffee, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

A small season

Coffee is cheapest in December, but the season is small.

Over 2006–2025, December ran a typical 2.3% below trend and May 1.8% above, and December was below trend in 11 of 13 years. Worth knowing if you buy a lot of coffee or can stock up; otherwise a store sale beats the calendar.

Coffee: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%JanJanuary: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.3%; 14 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1.7%; 14 years)MarMarch: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +1.3%; 13 years)AprApril: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +3%; 13 years)May+1.8%May: typically 1.8% above trend (half of years between −0.5% and +2.3%; 13 years)JunJune: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.5% and +1.8%; 14 years)JulJuly: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1.9%; 14 years)AugAugust: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.1% and +2.2%; 14 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.8%; 14 years)OctOctober: typically 0.2% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +1.2%; 14 years)NovNovember: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −3% and +2.1%; 14 years)Dec−2.3%December: typically 2.3% below trend (half of years between −4% and −1.1%; 13 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January−0.7%−1.6% to +0.3%14
February−0.7%−1.4% to +1.7%14
March−0.6%−1.2% to +1.3%13
April+0.9%−0.8% to +3%13
May+1.8%−0.5% to +2.3%13
June−0.7%−1.5% to +1.8%14
July+0.2%−1.4% to +1.9%14
August−0.7%−1.1% to +2.2%14
September−0.8%−1.6% to +0.8%14
October−0.2%−1.2% to +1.2%14
November−1.1%−3% to +2.1%14
December−2.3%−4% to −1.1%13

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of coffee (per pound) was $9.25 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical December price is about $9.05 and the typical May price about $9.43.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month coffee was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. December was the single cheapest month in 2 of 11 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in May20232023: cheapest in April20222022: cheapest in February20212021: cheapest in July20162016: cheapest in December20152015: cheapest in November20142014: cheapest in June20132013: cheapest in September20122012: cheapest in February20112011: cheapest in February20062006: cheapest in DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024May
2023April
2022February
2021July
2016December
2015November
2014June
2013September
2012February
2011February
2006December

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in December: what’s cheap in December. Pantry: flour (Nov), sugar (Dec), rice (Feb), pasta (Oct), bread (Jan), potato chips (Feb), cookies (Mar). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is coffee cheapest?

December. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of coffee in December was typically 2.3% below that year's trend, and below it in 11 of 13 years. May is the dearest month (1.8% above).

What is the most expensive month for coffee?

May, typically 1.8% above the year's trend price.

How much is coffee right now?

The U.S. average was $9.25 a pound in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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