Operations
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March 11, 2026
Toast has released its Q4 2025 Restaurant Trends Report and the February 2026 Menu Price Monitor.
In coffee trends:
- Regular drip coffee sales fell 3.3% and cold brew sales fell 2.2%. Consumers shifted toward “treat” culture, with barista-crafted lattes up 4% and espresso shots up 3.3%.
- Consumers are increasingly choosing convenience for their caffeine fix; energy drink sales increased by 8.7%, followed by diet sodas at 7.4%.
- Median prices for a cup of drip coffee increased to $3.65 (up 4.3% YoY), while cold brew reached a median of $5.58 (up 4.1%) YoY, driven by climate impacts and production costs in the “bean belt.”
- Average tipping rates remained flat in Q4 2025 compared to the previous quarter, with guests at full-service restaurants sticking to 19.2% and quick-service diners holding at 15.8%.
- Delaware remained the best state overall for tipping with an average of 21.8% in Q4 2025, up from 21.1% in Q3 2025.
- California is again at the bottom of the list with an average of 17.2% in Q4 2025, the same as in Q3 2025.
The February Menu Price Monitor’s highlights include:
- Burger Prices Start Steadying: The median price of a burger in February was $14.64, up 0.1% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 2.7% since February 2025.
- Cold Brew Creeps Up: The median price of a cold brew in February was $5.58, up 0.5% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 4.1% since February 2025.
- Regular Coffee Climbs: The median price of a regular coffee in February was $3.65, up 1.1% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 4.3% since February 2025.
- Burrito Prices Dip Slightly: The median price of a burger in February was $13.50, down .1% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 2.5% since February 2025.
- Beer Prices Barely Bubble: The median price of a beer in February was $6.49, up .2% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 1.9% since February 2025.
- Chicken Wings Prices Rise: The median price of a burger in February was $13.91, up 0.7% from January 2026. Year-over-year, prices are up 1.5% since February 2025.
