‘My one special treat': Guardian Australia readers react to rising costs of cafe coffee

The Guardian

a day ago

Whether it's a ritual or a mild addiction, coffee is a non-negotiable for some Australians. So when news broke that flat whites might cost $10 by the end of the year, it sent a chill down spines around the nation.
Increased coffee bean prices and the overall cost of doing business are driving up the price of coffee everywhere. So, curious if price hikes would cause Australians to forgo their daily brew, we put a callout to readers.
Analysing over 300 responses, it's clear buying a coffee means more to Guardian Australia readers than just the caffeine hit. While most said they still plan to buy takeaway coffee, for most it is no longer a daily purchase.
'Buying a proper coffee used to be an everyday thing for me,' wrote Nadia. 'A ritual I couldn't imagine not having. But since the cost-of-living crisis, it's no longer manageable.'
Most readers have noticed an increase in takeaway coffee prices, ranging from 50c to $2. As a result, they said they have become pickier with how often they are buying out. Most are saving their cafe coffee for social situations, such as when working in the office or catching up with friends.
'Coffee is such a crucial part of Australian social life and culture. You often meet friends and acquaintances and even professional colleagues at cafes and it is hard to get out of buying a coffee during these meets,' wrote Sagar.
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Readers who aren't limiting their intake are budgeting accordingly.
'Coffee is my one special treat each day,' said Sloane. 'My coffee budget comes out of my 'fun spending' money.' She said she'd rather sacrifice a dinner out or a fashion item than go without coffee.
Other readers said creeping prices are becoming harder to justify. An anonymous reader wrote: 'I do feel extremely guilty drinking my coffee. It is so expensive and getting more difficult to rationalise … I do not tell my colleagues that I buy a coffee daily.'
Although many are feeling the burden of pricier takeaway coffees, readers remain faithful to their local cafes.
'Our closest cafe is an important establishment in the community,' wrote Anthony.
Overwhelmingly, readers said they will continue to buy coffee from cafes if prices keep rising. Jacob, Anne and others point to the social aspect. 'It's not just about the coffee. It's a peaceful place – a little community. You can chat to people that you might not normally interact with,' wrote Jacob.
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'I will not be changing this [habit] even if the price doubles. In the local neighbourhood, a coffee is more than a cup of liquid. It is an interpersonal interaction,' said Anne.
This resonatedwith readers who work from home or remotely. Peter wrote: 'More often than not, [it's] the only in-person interaction I'll have all day.'
Many readers also stressed the importance of supporting their local cafes and were happy to pay more to do so: 'The best cafes are the ones that bring the community together, if those places go under due to financial stress … then the small financial loss I feel when I buy the coffee will be surpassed by the larger cost to the community and quality of the areas we live in,' wrote Anthony.
Whether or not people continue to buy coffees out, around half of the readers who responded said they are making coffees at home more frequently. Many, such as Kiri, established a set-up during lockdown. 'Our coffee habits really changed through Covid and we started using our home espresso machine every day,' she wrote. 'Since then I haven't gone back to buying coffee on a daily basis.'
Others have just established their home cafe, such as Danielle who no longer buys coffee out. 'I recently bought a home espresso machine. The machine will pay for itself in three weeks of no takeaway coffees.'
These set-ups range from French presses and moka pots to espresso machines with plenty of add-ons, which Katie said was 'all quite normal for inner Melbourne'.
Unfortunately more than half of readers could not name a place that offers a decent yet affordable coffee, with some turning to convenience store cups. 'If I really need one … the 7-11 stuff isn't bad!' wrote Erin.
Office coffee machines were also another cost-effective option for some readers, though with less positive results. 'I now either bring my coffee from home or I use the instant sachet coffees at work,' wrote Rosa. 'They all taste worse and are more for need than enjoyment.'
Others would rather opt out entirely. 'Bad-tasting coffee isn't worth it even if it's cheap,' wrote Andy.
For most, it's either coffee or nothing. When asked if they were seeking out alternative drink options, readers responded with a resounding no. The mere suggestion was too much for Maria: 'Every time I drink tea I just think, 'I wish you were coffee.''