The adverse weather conditions in Brazil, combined with the volatility of the euro-dollar exchange rate, are casting an increasingly dark shadow on the morning habits of Italians, in particular on the sacred cup of coffee. The alarm is raised by importers and roasters in the sector, who report aimminent price escalation which could bring the average cost of an espresso to almost reach 2 euros.
Coffee prices doubled: the reasons
According to what was reported by the National Association of Roasters, Coffee Importers and Food Wholesalers (Altoga), the prices of Robusta coffee have practically doubled in the last six months, recording an increase of 90%, while those of the Arabica variety have increased by 55%.
The causes of this surge are multiple: from the contraction of Vietnamese supply to adverse weather conditions in Braziluntil the unfavorable exchange rate between euro and dollar.
Finally, geopolitical and security concerns have led many transporters to avoid passage in the Red Sea. This resulted in an increase in travel times and costs for alternative routes, further impacting the costs of importing coffee.
Together, these factors have contributed to coffee import costs rising up to 50% higher than six months ago. The effects of this price surge impact consumers, distributors and producers, creating a context of uncertainty and adaptation in the global coffee market.
The president of Assoutenti, Gabriele Melluso, expressed concern about the possibility of further price increases, underlining that even a slight increase would have a significant impact on consumers’ pockets, considering that around 6 billion coffees are served per year in Italy. in public places, with a turnover estimated at around 7 billion euros per year:
“We fear that the rises in coffee prices could lead to price increases in the coming weeks both for drinks consumed at bars and for powdered coffee sold in supermarkets. Even a few cents of an increase would cause a blow to consumers’ pockets, considering that in Italy around 6 billion coffees a year are served in public places for an espresso turnover of around 7 billion euros per year”.
The most expensive cities to have coffee
According to data from the Association of Consumer Users (Assoutenti), the average price of a cup consumed at a bar has risen to 1.18 euros in the main Italian cities. A significant increase compared to the 1.03 euros recorded just three years ago, in 2021, which represents an increase of 14.9%.
Analyzing the data of the main cities, it emerges that Bolzano holds the record for the most expensive coffee at the bar, with an average price of 1.38 euros per cup, followed by Trento with 1.31 euros. In reverse, Catanzaro appears to be the cheapest city, with an average of 0.99 euros per cup.
Bolzano is followed by Trento, where price increases of 15.9% were recorded. Cities such as Pescara and Palermo also saw a notable increase, of 28.0% and 21.4% respectively. In contrast, Aosta recorded the lowest change, with a modest increase of 2.9%. The national average shows an increase of 14.9%, indicating a general upward trend in coffee prices in Italy during the period considered.
The situation is particularly critical in some provinces, such as Pescara and Bari, where the recorded increases exceed 24%.
