COFFEE, MILK $$ FLEECE THE CAFFEINATED

By ROBERTA C. YAFIE

Brace yourself for the $3.75 latte.

Increasing costs for specialty coffee, milk and real estate will lead Starbucks to hike prices again this year, industry sources say. Prices could climb by a dime or more.

Meanwhile, the 75-cent cup from your local street vendor could climb to 99 cents.

Ted Lingle, executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America in Los Angeles, says the real squeeze will hit during the 2006-2007 growing season, but the first stage is underway.

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