According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for instant coffee are 90.89% higher in 2025 versus 1986 (a $18.18 difference in value).
Between 1986 and 2025: Instant coffee experienced an average inflation rate of 1.67% per year. In other words, instant coffee costing $20 in the year 1986 would cost $38.18 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.79% during this same period, inflation for instant coffee was lower.
In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 21.02%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for instant coffee during the 1986-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation for instant coffee was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Instant coffee, over time, for $20 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $20.00 | 21.02% |
| 1987 | $18.57 | -7.16% |
| 1988 | $18.13 | -2.34% |
| 1989 | $18.23 | 0.55% |
| 1990 | $18.16 | -0.41% |
| 1991 | $18.03 | -0.69% |
| 1992 | $17.66 | -2.10% |
| 1993 | $17.55 | -0.57% |
| 1994 | $20.72 | 18.05% |
| 1995 | $23.51 | 13.45% |
| 1996 | $22.73 | -3.33% |
| 1997 | $23.68 | 4.21% |
| 1998 | $23.75 | 0.28% |
| 1999 | $24.70 | 4.01% |
| 2000 | $24.67 | -0.13% |
| 2001 | $25.08 | 1.67% |
| 2002 | $25.24 | 0.63% |
| 2003 | $25.33 | 0.37% |
| 2004 | $25.59 | 1.02% |
| 2005 | $27.14 | 6.07% |
| 2006 | $27.56 | 1.53% |
| 2007 | $29.14 | 5.72% |
| 2008 | $31.53 | 8.22% |
| 2009 | $30.94 | -1.86% |
| 2010 | $30.66 | -0.92% |
| 2011 | $32.56 | 6.20% |
| 2012 | $33.02 | 1.41% |
| 2013 | $31.99 | -3.11% |
| 2014 | $31.61 | -1.20% |
| 2015 | $31.35 | -0.82% |
| 2016 | $30.39 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $30.39 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | $28.96 | -4.70% |
| 2019 | $29.12 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $28.71 | -1.40% |
| 2021 | $29.06 | 1.22% |
| 2022 | $32.20 | 10.82% |
| 2023 | $33.64 | 4.48% |
| 2024 | $33.99 | 1.02% |
| 2025 | $38.18 | 12.33%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Instant coffee:
| Year | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 29.014 | 28.292 | 28.762 | 33.438 | 29.885 | 28.638 | 28.315 | 28.792 | 30.208 | 33.838 | 35.300 | 35.131 | 37.215 | 44.662 | 50.415 | 64.354 | 97.285 | 102.385 | 98.038 | 106.477 | 95.477 | 97.292 | 99.262 | 103.469 | 107.285 | 129.838 | 120.546 | 117.723 | 118.369 | 117.885 | 117.077 | 114.615 | 113.962 | 134.531 | 152.623 | 147.538 | 153.754 | 154.190 | 160.367 | 160.154 | 162.831 | 163.854 | 164.454 | 166.131 | 176.208 | 178.908 | 189.145 | 204.694 | 200.884 | 199.038 | 211.388 | 214.372 | 207.707 | 205.218 | 203.545 | 197.301 | 197.304 | 188.031 | 189.023 | 186.379 | 188.645 | 209.055 | 218.413 | 220.640 | 247.849 |