Philippe's Coffee Gets A Major Price Increase

Philippe's, the legendary Downtown eatery which opened in 1908, is now included in a long list of establishments that have been hit hard by the economy.

The famous nine cent cup of coffee will increase in cost to forty-five cents starting February 2, states the restaurant's website. The reason behind this? The rising cost of coffee beans and sugar.

"My grandfather said, 'I always wanted everyone to be able to afford a cup of coffee'," stated Philippe's general manager Richard Binder in the company's release. The only other time Phillipe's increased the price was in 1977, when it when moved from five cents to nine cents.

In a Starbucks world, forty-five cents still seems reasonable, but locals can't help but feel disappointed. In what can only be viewed as an apology, also starting February 2nd, Phillipe's will include coffee with the purchase of any full breakfast.

Travel Channel's Man vs. Food visited Philippe's to learn more about history of the french dip sandwich and how to make the restaurant's signature mustard. WATCH:

Comments

[jnor65]

01:46 PM on 01/27/2012

Vive la french dip!!

[kdockrey]

01:03 PM on 01/27/2012

Philippe's has received more free press from this coffee price increase than it could have bought... It seems like a smart move to me.

[TitaniumAvatar]

12:50 PM on 01/27/2012

If the increase to forty-five cents is going to break you, maybe you shouldn't be dining out?

Still a great place to get a French Dip and some Pie.

[Persnicketychick]

12:26 PM on 01/28/2012

Yes, French Dip and a slice o' pie. Never fails to make me happy. Throw in a glass of their Pinot Noir at $5 a glass and I'm down right giddy!

[studioh!]

12:32 PM on 01/27/2012

wonder what they charge for that "10-cents a dance" today?

[skraeling]

11:52 PM on 01/26/2012

bad coffee at any price,is still bad coffee and what is sold at Phillipe's is a throw back to the old days of brown water...the sandwiches are good, though...

[coblstone]

06:17 PM on 01/29/2012

Apfel's coffee is awesome joe and has been for years!
ask huell

[skraeling]

06:38 PM on 01/29/2012

Why ask someone like that? Just try it and then try real coffee...it isn't 1950 anymore..

[maskeddata]

09:41 PM on 01/26/2012

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the 50s and 60s and this was my father's favorite place to eat. I have so many happy memories of our visits there. Great food!

[RickinBoca]

09:00 PM on 01/26/2012

Still a bargain no matter how you look at it

[skraeling]

11:52 PM on 01/26/2012

awful coffee..in most places would be thrown out..

[RickinBoca]

10:51 AM on 01/27/2012

or drain cleaner?

[studioh!]

12:33 PM on 01/27/2012

are you banning the you ban?

[Anthony Dodd]

05:45 PM on 01/26/2012

I'm a fan of ol' school places. I really am. Having spent decades in Boston, only the best places were ol' school and wonderful.

Now with a decade of Los Angeles under my belt, I've been to Philippe's only twice. Once when I first got here and once recently. Both times I felt it was crazy over-rated, not a bargain in any sense of the word, and not worth returning to.

Sure it humiliates Subway, but so does a Von's handmade sandwich.

For those in Boston who don't know: BOB'S FOOD STORE in Medford obliterates Philippes. I actually sent a dude from a local Apple Store there and told him the steak tip and cheese was the best sandwich in the country. That he'd have to eat it off the roof of his rental car.

He was in Heaven.

[Foodgrade]

08:48 PM on 01/26/2012

I love the old places. I regret it everytime people give the cookie cutter places money instead of supporting the much better older places.

[skraeling]

11:54 PM on 01/26/2012

Cole's is as good and original as Phillipe's....LA has plenty of older places but they get no press...the Pantry, Cliftons's comes to mind, along with lots of Chinese and Japanese places or Dupar's in the Valley...lots more..

[Seastink]

04:29 PM on 01/26/2012

Oh man, this sure sucks. This is the worst news I've read today. I might have to start brewing my own coffee.

[crazymotherfcuker]

04:11 PM on 01/26/2012

"locals can't help but feel disappointed"? Come on, still the best deal in town. BTW, do you think the nickel diner down the street has anything on their menu for a nickel? All Angelenos need to be happy that places like this and the Pantry are still open after all these years.

[DSevere]

03:51 PM on 01/26/2012

'Hit hard by the economy' makes it sound like they're on the brink of going out of business, which I don't think is the case. The last time I was at Phillippe's for lunch, a couple of months ago, it had long lines of people practically out the door. So this is just overdramatizing a reasonable business decision to stop with the 9 cent coffee...

[stjoshy]

11:38 PM on 01/26/2012

yeah seriously.. philipes is THE place to stop for a french dip in LA. they probably think now is as good a time as any to bump the price.

[skraeling]

11:55 PM on 01/26/2012

Cole's is just as good.

[O K Ali]

03:47 PM on 01/26/2012

My first stop, whenever I get to LA, is Phillippes. That price hike is still affordable.

[planetjeffy]

02:59 PM on 01/26/2012

I love Phillippe's. It has been a couple of years since I've eaten there. I'll have to make the drive up from San Diego soon to chow down and grab some mustard to bring home.

[Jay818]

02:45 PM on 01/26/2012

the fact that they've kept it 9 cents since 77 is amazing...50 cents is still good.

[Bob Conti]

02:36 PM on 01/26/2012

Totally understandable and reasonable. Awesome French Dips. (And pie...)