If you suspectthe price of your coffeehas gone up lately, you’re probably right.
The cost of producing milk and coffee beans has gone up over the last few years.
All these factors converge, and retailers pass cost increases onto their customers.
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The question then becomes: just how much are customers willing to pay for a cup of coffee?
After those add-ons, your latte can quickly reach upwards of $8 after a tip.
At that point, your trusty five-dollar bill isn’t going to cut it anymore.
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Even baristas admit that coffee prices are approaching the threshold of what customers are willing to pay.
During an Aprilearnings call, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said budget-conscious customers have been more careful about their spending.
Indeed, many Starbucks fans have expressed their frustrations online.
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“Seems like Starbucks is raising prices every month since Jan 2024.
Six months ago, that order was $5.40.
By April 2024, that same order came to $6.
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“I can’t even afford my drink WITH my discount.
Nowadays, that second price sounds downright cheap.
“Last week, large cold brew (no foam or extras) = $3.99.
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Logged in to the app today to order, price is now $5.19!!!
Ummm, no,” one Redditorwrote.
“DD stepped over the edge of the supply/demand/cost cliff.
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And yes, same store, even checked another local store, same ridiculous increase.”
In fact, some Dunkin' fans are likening the prices to Starbucks.
“Is anyone else’s local Dunkin' more expensive than Starbucks now?”
“It wasn’t that long ago that an XL coffee was $2.50 or $2.55.
When did it jump to over $3??
Capitalism and corporate greed are going to kill us all,” one Redditorwrote.
And now it is $2.30???”
Fancier drinks, like iced cappucinos, are more expensive, too.
“A large is now 4.89 in my area.
Ridiculous,” one Redditorcomplained.
I quit giving Tim Hortons my business a few years ago,” one former fanwrote.
In 2023 alone, the Oregon-based chain opened 159 new stores.
The prices, however, have become a point of contention for some loyal Dutch Bros fans.
Dutch Bros raised prices by 11% in 2022.
However, in early 2023, CEO Joth RiccitoldRestaurant Business Magazine the company hoped to avoid further price jumps.
It doesn’t sit well with customers, either.
“Did they up their prices again?”
one Redditoraskedthree months ago.
Hate this keeps happening."
One Dutch Broscustomerwas shocked to see that a medium coffee was $7.50 in California.
One former fan put it simply: “Long time daily customer here, the prices are insane.”
