Italians are increasingly worried about the rising cost of coffee, driven by crop shortages and soaring global coffee bean prices, which threatens the tradition of affordable espresso, a key part of their daily life.
Italy, a country that consumes 6 billion cups of coffee annually, is now facing a significant price hike. Italians, who are used to paying as little as €1.20 for an espresso, are now adjusting to the possibility of paying up to €2 per cup. While such an increase may seem normal in cities like London or New York, it comes as a major shock to the residents of Rome, where coffee has long been a daily affordable staple.
Luigi Murillo, president of the Italian Espresso Institute, noted that “everyone is feeling nervous and anxious about these price increases.” With rising energy costs and raw material prices, Italian cafés—where espresso makes up 30% of sales—are facing major challenges. The AssoUtenti consumer association expressed concerns that continued price increases may drive more people to drink coffee at home instead of in cafés.
The price hikes are largely attributed to global supply chain disruptions, which have been affected by unfavorable climate conditions and Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Global coffee prices have surged to record highs, prompting many coffee roasting companies to raise their prices.
However, Gabriele Miloso, president of AssoUtenti, believes that the cost of producing a cup of coffee is still significantly lower than its selling price, insisting that cafés are still enjoying strong profit margins. Many cafés, however, disagree, struggling to stay afloat amid economic and social pressures to keep espresso prices low.
In an attempt to maintain customer loyalty, some café owners in regions like Liguria have offered creative solutions, such as one owner who sells espresso at a reduced price on the condition that customers bring their own cups and spoons.