Many coffee drinkers notice it with every shop: coffee has become expensive. A bag of coffee beans or a box of capsules costs noticeably more than you were used to. That is no coincidence, and it is not something that only affects your supermarket. The price increase has several causes that ripple through worldwide. In this article you will read why coffee has become more expensive and, more importantly, how you can still get good-quality coffee at a low price.
Disappointing harvests in coffee-growing countries
Coffee is an agricultural product and therefore highly dependent on the weather. The main coffee-growing countries, such as Brazil and Vietnam, have faced periods of drought, heat and sometimes too much rain. Coffee plants are sensitive: one unfavourable season can reduce the yield of an entire harvest year. If the harvest disappoints while the world wants to drink as much or more coffee, the price of raw coffee beans on the world market rises. You eventually see that higher purchase price on the shelf.
Demand for coffee keeps growing
At the same time, the world is drinking more and more coffee. In countries where coffee was traditionally less popular, consumption is growing rapidly. More demand with stable or shrinking supply simply means higher prices. The demand for specific varieties also plays a part: arabica, the bean behind most quality coffee, is more sensitive to weather conditions than robusta and is therefore more often in short supply.
Transport, energy and packaging cost more
Coffee travels a long way before it ends up in your cup. From the plantation to the port, by ship to Europe, then to the roastery and finally to the shop or webshop. Costs have risen in every one of those links:
- Sea freight: container transport has become more expensive and routes are sometimes longer or less predictable.
- Energy: roasting coffee takes a lot of energy, and that energy is more expensive.
- Packaging materials: foil, tins and cardboard have also gone up in price.
- Staff and logistics: higher wages feed through into every step of the chain.
Each of these factors seems small, but together they make every bag of coffee more expensive.
Exchange rates and world market trading
Coffee is traded internationally in dollars. If the exchange rate moves unfavourably, European roasters pay more for the same beans. In addition, coffee is traded on futures markets, where expectations about upcoming harvests help determine the price. Uncertainty about future harvests can therefore push up the price before a single bean has been picked.
How to buy coffee smartly and affordably
You cannot change the world market, but you can change how you buy. With this approach, you keep the cost per cup low without compromising on taste:
- Buy larger packs: the price per kilo of a bulk pack is almost always considerably lower than that of small bags.
- Watch for deals and surplus stock: webshops that buy sharply can offer quality coffee at a lower price.
- Choose beans instead of capsules: per cup, whole beans are usually the most economical option.
- Stock up deliberately: unopened bags of coffee keep for a long time, so feel free to buy several bags when you spot a good deal.
- Compare the price per kilo: do not look at the price per bag, but calculate the price per kilo to compare offers fairly.
Discover new flavours affordably
Buying smart also means not blindly buying large quantities of a coffee you have never tasted. First try smaller amounts of different blends and decide what you really like. A tasting pack is the easiest route: you discover several varieties at an attractive price and can then buy your favourite in bulk. That way you combine the lowest price per cup with coffee you genuinely enjoy.
Conclusion: it does not have to be expensive
The fact that coffee has become more expensive has clear causes: disappointing harvests, growing global demand and higher costs for transport, energy and packaging. But expensive on the world market does not have to mean expensive in your kitchen. If you watch the price per kilo, choose bulk packs and stock up strategically, you can still drink good coffee at a low price. Browse our complete range of coffee with sharp prices per kilo, or start with one of our tasting packs and discover affordably which coffee suits you best.
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