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Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Well, we've been through a lot of heavy stuff on the show today, as we do many days these days, Rikers Island as an issue in the New York City mayoral race, cuts to health data collection at the Centers for Disease Control and the Trump administration, and the conversation we just had on the Middle East. As we sometimes do after all of that, we're going to end on the lighter side.
Let's talk about coffee. Roasted coffee prices are soaring higher and higher. That's what a recent Wall Street Journal article, Hell Hath No Fury Like a Coffee Drinker in 2025, is saying. Did you read it? Here's our question. Coffee drinkers, do you have any tips and tricks for managing the rising price of coffee? 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. Have you changed your habits? Are you not getting as much coffee out and making more at home? Are you getting smaller sizes at your favorite coffee shop?
What are some tricks and tips for managing the rising costs of coffee that you have engaged in, Wall Street Journal reported on some, and that you might want to share with fellow coffee drinkers in the audience? 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. Why is this happening? Well, the journal reports, "Roasted coffee prices at the grocery stores are up 22% in the past year, more than any other item tracked by the government."
They attribute this to Trump's tariffs hitting coffee producers in countries like Brazil, which has a 50% tariff right now, on top of coffee farms suffering from poor weather conditions there. They get into some people's tips and tricks. What are yours? 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692, or you can text. Are you making your cold brews at home instead of buying them at a coffee shop, buying cheaper brands of coffee, or patronizing cheaper coffee shops? There is a range, as you probably know. What are your practices right now? What are your tips and tricks for fellow listeners to manage the spiking cost of coffee? 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. We'll take those tips and tricks on coffee right after this.
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Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Now, to your tips and tricks for managing the spike in coffee prices. Here are some texts first. "I don't get coffee out. I buy really good beans, but then cut them with weak grounds to stretch out the supply." Listener writes, "I used to throw out the extra coffee from the brew pot after the morning was over. Not anymore. Homemade iced coffee, that goes straight into the fridge."
Another one, this is a brand shout-out. "Get coffee at Trader Joe's. It's consistently good. I love Puerto Rico and will always support them. They have good prices for the quality." Another listener writes, "I will try to make coffee at home but will go to Dunkin' instead of Starbucks because it's cheaper, even though out of my way to work a bit." Those are some of the texts. Let's go to some of the calls. Claire in Port Washington, you're on WNYC. Hi, Claire.
Claire: Hi, Brian. Yes, I've been an ardent coffee drinker since, I guess, the '70s, when I dragged my friends onto the Long Island Rail Road to go down to Greenwich Village to Caffe Reggio to have their first cappuccino. They thought I was nuts. Since then, I've been a cappuccino drinker. Used to drive to Ralph's every day in Manhasset and get my cappuccino. No more. Sometimes I would have two, and it would be $15 a day for coffee, nuts. Agree with some of the texts. Get your beans at Trader Joe's, and they have some really delicious beans. They have a beautiful decaf French organic. When the pot still has some left, pour it into a glass jar. Throw it in the fridge with a little bit of milk or half and half and some cinnamon-
Brian Lehrer: -and then use it iced. Claire, I'm going to move on to some other callers. Thank you for that. Here's another brand shout-out. Maya in Manhattan, you're on WNYC. Hi, Maya.
Maya: Hi, Brian. I'm just calling to let people know. My friend told me about this a few weeks ago. If you download the Panera app, you can get a free two-month membership. It's called the Sip Club, I think. Then with that, you can get free coffee. I believe it's every two hours at any Panera location, like coffee, iced coffee. I think it's other drinks, too. Yes, they give you a free trial.
Brian Lehrer: Thanks for that one. June in Norwalk, you're on WNYC. Hi, June.
June: Hi, Brian. I'm working on pushing my coffee drinking time back in the morning so that I can make it to work for the free coffee brewed at work instead of brewing at home quite as often. Another little thing is, usually--
Brian Lehrer: I won't tell your boss. I promise.
June: Oh, good. [chuckles] Thank you. Another little thing, there's usually upcharges for non-dairy milks at coffee shops. I have taken to recently sometimes bringing a little cup of my non-dairy milk from home to pour into just a black coffee at a coffee shop.
Brian Lehrer: Thank you very much. Jim Bay in Harlem, you're on WNYC. Hi, Jim Bay.
Jim Bay: Hey, Brian, and happy birthday. I know it's around this time at some point.
Brian Lehrer: Oh, thank you. Last week. [chuckles]
Jim Bay: Oh, great. My mom and you are close to each other. Yes, I have been storing coffee. I am an adamant coffee drinker, but I have been storing the beans like someone has said. What I do is I use half of what I've done because what you do is you grind them much finer than you normally do, like the American way. You grind them to the French or Italian, or espresso. Then you can use half as much, and it's still got the pack, the impact, or the decaf, too. I like on off days, hive off days. You grind them, and then what you do is you put it and just make it regularly. Then when you put the milk in or whatever you use, I use oat milk and that kind of stuff, and then that's it, and agave if you need it.
Brian Lehrer: Jim Bay, thank you very much, and thanks for the birthday greetings. Let's see. Listener writes, I'm going to sneak in one more text here, "We've been buying bottled, black, cold brew coffee rather than spend $5 to $7 on one cup that is filled with mostly ice. It ends up being less than half the price and often tastes better." There you go. Maybe some of you helped your fellow coffee drinkers with those tips and tricks. I will note that somebody else wrote, "We should go out and protest the rising price of coffee." Listeners, thanks for your calls and texts on that. The Brian Lehrer Show for today, produced by Mary Croak, Lisa Allison, Amina Srna, Carl Boisrond, and Esperanza Rosenbaum. Juliana Fonda-- oh no, it was Matt Mirando and Milton Ruiz at the audio controls.
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