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Since 1977, Philippe has charged just nine cents for coffee — plus a penny in tax. Nice touch and marketing gimmick while it lasted. On Wednesday a sign went up on the door announcing the hike to 45 cents effective Feb. 2. That's still about a third of the price of the smallest Starbucks drip coffee. To soften the blow, those eight ounces of Philippe's coffee will now be included in the price of a full breakfast, the management says.
Skyrocketing coffee costs are to blame. From the Philippe website:
The cost of coffee doubled between Spring 2010 and Spring 2011, rising above $6 per pound according to government statistics. In addition, the cost of sugar has increased from $16 per bag in the 1970s to $37 today....Philippe's last increased the price of its coffee 35 years ago, from 5 to 9 cents a cup, in 1977.
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Philippe's will continue to buy its coffee from Los Angeles-based Apffels Fine Coffees.
Updated post
LA Observed photo of Philippe sign