As prices on everything from gas to groceries soar nationwide, Summit students are finding themselves paying a premium for one of their staples: coffee. Walk into any classroom and you’ll find multiple disposable cups from Dutch Bros, Starbucks or one of Bend’s many local coffee shops perched upon desks. 

But in recent weeks, a rise in cost has affected many of students’ favorite caffeinated beverages.

On May 11, news broke that all items at PNW landmark Dutch Bros became 75 cents more expensive (except for the infamous Blue Rebel energy drinks). Nationwide, Starbucks is allegedly planning a price hike for the third time this year, according to CBS News.

“I don’t think it should cost $5 just to get a coffee during the school day,” said sophomore Pippa Souza.

While these changes certainly hurt wallets, more severe differences can be seen at local establishments. Thump Coffee is a popular option among students due to their convenient location to campus and varied food options. Recently, customers are being charged a dollar more for every item than stated on the menu, with other changes occurring at random. 

“When I used to go to Thump at the beginning of the year, my bagel and my coffee used to be around $4. Now it’s $7.” said junior Miranda Peters.

Local coffee shop Strictly Organic also raised the prices of all drinks by 25 cents a few months ago after being forced to pay more for the necessary supplies.

“I have a feeling it has to do with materials , like the price of our alternative milks and getting our beans shipped from other countries,” said an employee at the Bond Street location.

These noticeable changes are most likely a result of high levels of inflation in recent months. And while paying for coffee falls low on most people’s priority lists, high schoolers feel it more than others. Realistically, Summit’s caffeinated culture will persist through these changes. But, they may urge some students to consider their finances more before shelling out $5 at the drive thru window.