Coffee carts look simple. Margins are not.
Your biggest leaks are usually milk ounces, espresso waste, and packaging. A $0.10 drift per drink becomes thousands over a month.
This guide is a U.S.-focused coffee cart cost calculator. Use it to price espresso, drip, and iced drinks with confidence.
Quick Summary
- Lock a fixed espresso dose and milk ounce standard
- Treat cups, lids, sleeves, and straws as real ingredients
- Price iced drinks as their own recipes
- Reprice monthly when dairy and coffee move
Why Coffee Cart Margins Leak
- Milk over-pour is invisible.
- A 1 oz extra pour on 200 drinks is real money.
- Dial-in waste adds up.
- Remakes and test shots are not free.
- Packaging is a first-class cost.
- Cups and lids can cost as much as the espresso.
- Iced drinks are mis-modeled.
- Ice changes volume, not costs.
- Rush hours create portion drift.
- Speed kills precision.
Core Coffee Cart Formula
Drink cost = Coffee + Milk + Add-ons + Packaging + Waste
Food cost % = Drink cost ÷ Menu priceIf your menu price is stable but costs rise, margin disappears.
U.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These BLS/FRED benchmarks are retail. Use them as directional signals, then plug in supplier pricing.
| Item | U.S. city average (Dec 2025) | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee, ground roast | $9.053/lb | $0.020/g | Espresso + drip base |
| Milk, fresh whole | $4.047/gal | $0.032/oz | Latte + cappuccino cost |
| Eggs, grade A, large | $2.712/dozen | $0.23/egg | Breakfast add-ons |
Portion Standards to Lock In
Write these down and train to them every shift.
- Espresso dose (g per shot)
- Milk ounces per size
- Ice volume per iced drink
- Syrup pumps (ml or oz)
- Cup + lid + sleeve cost per size
Example: 12 oz Hot Latte
Portion assumptions (example):
- Espresso: 18g double shot
- Milk: 8 oz
- Cup + lid + sleeve: $0.25
Cost breakdown:
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 18g | $0.020/g | $0.36 |
| Milk | 8 oz | $0.032/oz | $0.26 |
| Cup + lid + sleeve | 1 set | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Total drink cost | $0.87 |
Price targets:
| Target Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 25% | $3.48 |
| 28% | $3.11 |
| 30% | $2.90 |
If your market will not support the price, reduce milk ounces or cup costs.
Coffee Cart-Only Costs You Must Track
- Generator fuel or battery charging
- Ice purchases (especially for events)
- Water refills and filters
- Event fees or vendor commissions
- Rush-hour waste (remakes + spills)
These do not show up in a single drink recipe, but they crush margin.
Do This Now
- Weigh your espresso dose on a scale and lock it in (18g is standard for a double)
- Measure milk ounces for each cup size—no eyeballing
- Add cup, lid, and sleeve costs to your recipe (check your supplier invoice)
- Calculate your current food cost % on your top 3 drinks
- Set a monthly reprice reminder for when coffee or milk prices move
Related Guides
- US Coffee Shop Cost Guide
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- US Restaurant Prime Cost Calculator
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
- Recipe Costing Guide