The daily espresso at the bar is a ritual for many Italians. But the price for the small cup of coffee has been increasing for years. Customers are still involved – but how long?
In Italy, espresso is not just a staple – it is a cultural asset. All the more dramatic the latest price development: the limit of one euro for the “caffè” no longer applies. Because the kilo price for coffee has increased by a good third in recent years. Therefore, the espresso at the bar could soon become even more expensive.
“Daily ritual” For many Italians
Italians spend more than seven billion euros on espresso or cappuccino a year. Preferably while standing at the bar. “My daily ritual”says Marco Castelnuovo in the coffee bar Bertini in the Roman district of Montesacro. The coffee at the bar finally tastes very different from that at home.
The price increase is also noticeable in the Bertini bar. “I remember times when the caffè still cost 300 lire”says Barista Francesco Bertini. Later, after the introduction of the euro, it was a long time: a cup of espresso must not cost more than one euro. This sound barrier has long since fallen. “It has been cost 1.20 euros for a year and I think we will soon land at 1.50 euros.”
For a long time in the north
These prices are already paid in northern Italy. Here, too, as in almost all areas of life – there is a north -south gradient. In Sicily or Calabria, with a little luck you will find bars that offer the espresso for less than one euro. In the very north, in Bolzano, the cup of espresso costs an average of 1.43 euros.
And Cristina Scocchia, head of Illy, one of the largest Italian manufacturers, is already preparing customers for the next increase. The price for a cup “caffé” become “In the coming months, an estimated two euros reach, since the price of raw coffee is affected by high volatility and an unprecedented upward trend”.
Climate change reduces the harvests
Raw Arabica or Robusta beans are constantly traded at new maximum prices. The stock market price for raw coffee has increased by 247 percent since 2020 and has thus reached its highest level since 1977. One reason: climate change. Weather extremes in attachments such as droughts or floods reduce the harvest yields.
“The temperatures are changing all over South America, and therefore it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow coffee – compared to the amount that was produced earlier”says Andrea Sammarone, who operates a small caffeine roaster in Rome. Sammarone puts on “untreated coffee, without additives”.
Coffee roaster Andrea Sammarone attaches great importance to quality. “Our coffee is always fresh”he says.
Quality has its price
He attaches importance to the difference to the large manufacturers: “Our coffee is always fresh. I roast every ten days.” Quality that has its price. The four-year-old list is still hanging in the roaster: 2.30 euros for 100 grams of Arabica coffee. The new prices are struck at the front of the shop: 3.50 euros for the same mix – whether ground or in beans.
What also drives the coffee price up: the energy costs have increased, and wages have also increased. In addition, there is a reason that seems to make the coffee -roaster Sammarone almost a little proud: the demand for high -quality coffee beans has increased in recent years, and worldwide.
“Great culture and tradition”
Even in the Bertini bar, the last price increase does not seem to have any serious effects on consumer behavior. Compared to Germany the “caffè” still unrivaled in Italy. Too cheap, says Barista Bertini. Even an industrially produced fruit juice finally costs three euros. Producing a good espresso is real manual work: roasting, preparation.
Unaffected: the coffee culture. Bertini, however, sees it at risk from the price increase. “We could lose a lot because our bars have a great culture and tradition.” A coffee bar is more about the consumption of coffee, Francesco enthuses: “It’s about interpersonal exchange.”
