There’s nothing wrong with splurging on a good cup of coffee—until you realize you dropped $9 on a latte that tastes like almond-scented regret. Across the country, there are coffee shops that care more about aesthetics than flavor, where you’re mostly paying for the marble countertops, mood lighting, and the opportunity to post it on Instagram.
Sure, the vibes are immaculate. But if you’ve ever walked out wondering why your oat milk cold brew cost more than a decent lunch, this list is for you. Here are the 15 most overpriced coffee shops in America, ranked by how hard they hit your wallet for a sip of caffeine and a whiff of pretension.
15. Alfred Coffee – Los Angeles, California
“But first, coffee” might be cute, but that $7 latte is not. Alfred is all about the brand, and your wallet pays its price.
14. Ralph’s Coffee – New York, New York
Yes, it’s inside a Ralph Lauren store and charges like you’re buying a cashmere sweater. You mostly pay for the green cup and the ambiance, not the beans.
13. Blue Bottle – San Francisco, California
Blue Bottle is sleek, minimal, and proud of its single-origin beans. But once your small pour-over crosses $8, it’s hard not to feel like you’re being roasted with the coffee.
12. Verve Coffee – Santa Cruz, California
Verve has excellent design and solid coffee, but their prices push it into the “only if someone else is paying” category. The $10+ specialty drinks feel more like luxury experiments than daily caffeine fixes.
11. G&B Coffee – Los Angeles, California
Located in Grand Central Market, G&B is known for being both delicious and overpriced. The espresso is strong, but so is the hit to your checking account.
10. La Colombe – Various Locations
La Colombe’s draft lattes are smooth, but the prices are even smoother when sneaking up on you. A small drink and a pastry will leave you wondering where your $15 went.
9. Stumptown Coffee – Portland, Oregon
Stumptown helped kick off the third-wave coffee movement, but now it’s positioning itself like the Tesla of coffee. You’ll need to budget to try one of their seasonal specialties.
8. Intelligentsia – Chicago, Illinois
Artisan vibes and high-end presentation are nice, but when a black coffee hits $6, it starts to feel like a scam with foam. It’s hip, sure—but also heavy on the upcharge.
7. Sightglass Coffee – San Francisco, California
It’s a beautiful space with beautiful drinks—and beautifully inflated prices. Sightglass leans into the experience, but your bank account might not enjoy it as much as you do.
6. The Butcher’s Daughter – New York, New York
This one’s technically more of a café than a coffee shop, but that hasn’t stopped them from charging nearly $9 for a basic latte. You’re paying for the aesthetic, not just the espresso.
5. The Wing (when it was open) – Various Cities
The coffee at The Wing was free for members, but it still counts when your membership costs more than a gym. The vibes were curated, and so were the coffee prices, just with a monthly subscription model.
4. Toby’s Estate (now Partners Coffee) – Brooklyn, New York
Toby’s has always had cool packaging and hipster appeal, but the drinks have steadily climbed in price. Now, you’re mostly paying for the real estate and the brand.
3. Blue Stone Lane – Various Cities
Australian-inspired and ridiculously expensive, Blue Stone Lane is where you spend $20 on coffee and avocado toast. It’s got coastal charm and price tags to match.
Read More: Espresso Yourself: Coffee Lovers Pick America’s 10 Best Cafés
2. Go Get ‘Em Tiger – Los Angeles, California
GGET does a lot right—great coffee, strong brand, beautiful cafés—but it does a lot to your credit card. It’s no longer casual when your breakfast sandwich and drink combo costs $25.
Read More: The Perfect Coffee Isn’t Hard to Make – Here are the Basics
1. Cha Cha Matcha – New York and Los Angeles
It’s vibrant, Instagrammable, and painfully overpriced. A pastel pink vibe and a $9 matcha latte? Chaotic, but people still line up for it.
Read More: The 15 Best Coffee Chains in the US, Ranked
