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8 Coffee Chains That Just Aren't Worth It Anymore

Customers are complaining about both inflation and 'shrinkflation'.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Oct. 3, 2026

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Coffee drinkers have been dealing with rising prices at grocery stores and their favorite coffee chains alike in recent years. A range of global issues have contributed to the increases, from lacking inventory to predicted crop issues related to this year's strong El Niño.

With spikes in prices across the board, the daily coffee run is no longer worth it for many, especially if you're trying to stretch your eating-out budget. Beyond prices, customers have been complaining about a range of issues related to quality at major coffee chains recently.

For those looking to cut costs, these eight chains may simply no longer be worth the money.

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The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The biggest complaint among former fans of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf seems to be that they abandoned unique drinks and atmospheres at their cafes in an attempt to keep up with larger chains, like Starbucks — and their prices are similar to Starbucks now as well.

The company has locations across the U.S., though most are concentrated on the West Coast, particularly in Southern California. One of the draws for fans of the chain was that the atmosphere felt more like a local coffee shop, much less corporate than your standard, polished Starbucks cafe.

In trying to compete, many believe The Coffee Bean has lost its way.

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Dutch Bros Coffee

Dutch Bros has locations across much of the U.S., with a particularly large presence out west, in California and Oregon, and Texas.

Many Dutch Bros fans say they were originally drawn to the company because it was a cheaper alternative to Starbucks and sold coffee drinks that were just as good.

Lately, many have taken to Reddit to note that the prices are no longer competitive. A common complaint is that customers end up paying nearly $10 for a single drink. Another is that the company pays so little that it's hard to keep experienced employees on staff.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee has always been more of a premium coffee choice, as the company prides itself on a commitment to carefully sourced beans and sustainability.

Around the U.S., the stores are mostly located in more expensive areas, where customers may be more accustomed to shelling out more for a good cup of coffee, like New York City, Southern California, and Boston. Still, even customers who are used to expensive coffee have a limit.

A common complaint, at least on Reddit, is that quality dropped when Blue Bottle was bought by Nestle in 2017, and it's no longer worth $6+ for a single cup of coffee.

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Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons got its start as a coffee and bake shop in Ontario, Canada, in 1964 and has expanded into the U.S., with locations spread across the country in the decades since.

For a time, it was a solid spot to stop in for an affordable coffee and a quick bite, but lately, customers have had quite a bit to say about rising costs.

Many on the Tim Hortons subreddit long for the days when an iced coffee and a 20-pack of Timbits (donut holes) were just $1.99 each. Prices vary by location, but now that iced coffee is likely more than $3 and the 20-pack of Timbits is more than $6.

Starbucks

Though Starbucks is still king by many standards, with more than 16,000 stores in the U.S. alone, customers have been consistently complaining about prices at the coffee chain for years.

A quick sweep of the Starbucks subreddit will turn up plenty of complaints about ever-increasing drink prices and shrinking food items that seem increasingly not worth the price.

A YouGov survey of the most popular dining brands in the U.S. shows a falling ranking for the coffee giant, with only 42% of respondents reporting a positive opinion about Starbucks. For comparison, 64% had a positive opinion of Dunkin' Donuts.

Caribou Coffee

Caribou got its start in Minnesota more than 30 years ago and has since expanded to more than 400 stores across much of the U.S. Unlike some of the other chains on this list, a drop in coffee quality is not a common complaint. The main issue is that it no longer offers competitive prices.

Users in the Caribou Coffee subreddit point to increasingly expensive drinks, including some that exceed $7 for a medium, even without modifications. Even employees (anonymously) validated the price complaints, with one noting that they can no longer afford the drinks, even with an employee discount.

On the plus side, Caribou does offer a value menu where customers can nab small coffees for $2.

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Peet's Coffee

Peet's has been in the coffee game for decades, even before Starbucks, and has quite the loyal fan base. But even the most devoted coffee drinkers get peeved when their daily cup skyrockets in price.

A common complaint among Peet's drinkers, or former drinkers, on Reddit is that the cost for a bag of coffee beans is way up. Currently, a pound of beans ranges in price from around $20 to $25 online.

YouGov's survey also indicates a drop in positive ratings for the coffee chain, with just 38% of people rating it favorably.

Biggby Coffee

Biggby is dedicated to paying its suppliers fair prices and keeping franchise owners successful. It's an admirable business model, but some customers feel that the cost is being passed onto them a bit too much lately.

The chain stems from Michigan and has expanded since the '90s into much of the Upper Midwest and several areas in the South. In the past year, users have taken to the chain's subreddit to question why specialty drinks are up to nearly $9, and previous coupon culture appears to have disappeared.

Bottom line

For many Americans, the daily coffee run has transformed from a simple, affordable treat to a habit that needs kicking to avoid wasting money. It's understandably hard to justify shelling out between $5 and $10 for a latte or cold brew every day when inflation keeps pushing up the cost of basic goods.

This doesn't mean you have to abandon the occasional coffee run, though. If you're still a fan of one of the chains listed here, a few simple steps can help keep costs down, like enrolling in loyalty programs to take advantage of freebies and discounts or reducing the daily coffee run to a once- or twice-a-week treat.

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