For the second time in a year, Starbucks is raising its coffee prices because of rising energy costs, gas prices, cost of milk, etc. On average, your favorite beverage will go up about 9 cents on July 31:

The increase will apply to coffees, lattes, frozen Frappuccinos and some tea-based drinks, including fruit and tea blends made behind the counters in all of its domestic company-operated stores, company spokesman Brandon Borrman said.

The increase will not apply to bottled drinks or food, Borrman said.

The company's last price increase — 5 cents — took effect Oct. 3, 2006.

Ok, let's do a little quick coffee math, shall we? Say you have a basic morning caffeine habit of a tall drip coffee (with room for cream and an Equal, thanks). Right now that costs you about $1.55 (unless you're at an airport or something). Now add 9 cents and your cost per day goes up to $1.64. Drink one a day before work (about 240 work days), and that's almost $400 a year. For plain old coffee.

We'd like to quit, but addiction's a bitch.

Cheers, everybody.

Photo by dgphilli via flickr.