<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DIEDRICH
COFFEE, INC. UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED AND
AS OF JULY 31, 1996 CONTAINED IN COMPANY'S SECOND QUARTER 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000947661
<NAME> DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          57,058
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  151,153
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    952,636
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,477,204
<PP&E>                                       9,607,429
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,285,634
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              11,146,825
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        7,319,084
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                  3,025,813
<COMMON>                                       330,698
<OTHER-SE>                                           0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                11,146,825
<SALES>                                      8,942,091
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             8,942,091
<CGS>                                        3,908,882
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                3,908,882
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             4,742,019
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             108,732
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                184,464
<INCOME-TAX>                                    71,649
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            112,815
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   112,815
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0