Taking a cup of coffee at a bar costs on average 1.20 euros, ten cents more than in December 2023. The increase recorded in Tuscia is uniform: +9%, with different prices charged which vary according to the area. In the hamlets of the capital and in the smaller municipalities the cup rarely exceeds 1.10 euros, while in some coastal businesses, it is not unusual to pay up to 1.30. Significant increases (in the two-year period April 2022 – April 2024 they were 20%) «for which we are not primarily responsible. The blame comes from afar: the price for a kg of coffee doesn’t stop growing, not to mention the rest: increases everywhere”, explain the baristas. In the last six months, the stock prices of Robusta coffee have exploded, recording a surge of 90%, going from 2,200 to 4,195 dollars per ton
. At the same time, prices of the Arabica variety increased by 55%, from 155.25 to 239.85 US cents. And the perfect storm may not be over. In fact, between now and the end of the year, the risk of a new surge in prices is real. After the aforementioned flare-ups, with consequent increases, the forecasts for the coffee market on international markets are not good: “increasing prices which risk having direct repercussions on the pockets of Italians, leading to an even greater increase in prices”, warns Assoconsumatori. «For our part, we try to do everything we can to not pass the final price onto consumers, but it’s not always possible», explains Paolo Meraglia, owner of the Dolce e Amaro bar in Civita Castellana. Furthermore, catering companies have been under pressure for two years. «Since the outbreak of the energy crisis onwards we have entered a sort of tunnel: at the beginning of the year I was forced to raise the price of a cup from 1.10 euros to 1.20. Too? Compared to what we face every day, between crazy prices and uncontrollable fluctuations, this is a small thing. The price should be adjusted further, but we take care of our customers.”
While concerns increase: «We serve a cup of coffee for 1.10 but the prices of raw materials are now out of control – explains Simone Tiburzi, owner of the Mama’s bar in the hamlet of La Quercia -. Punctually, at the beginning of the year the price of coffee rises.” Keeping the bar straight is increasingly difficult. «From the end of the pandemic onwards we have kept prices blocked at 1.20 euros – explains Francesco Ruiu, owner of the XO bar in Viterbo -. I hope not, but if there are further increases in prices in the coming months then we may be forced to make a new intervention. I believe the problem, however, goes far beyond coffee. It is deeper and must be approached with the utmost seriousness. Let’s take fresh milk for example, good quality is almost impossible to find for a liter under one euro and fifty, a few years ago it was found at just over half: what follows is history already written.” Most of the bars in the capital have chosen to serve coffee for one euro and 20 cents. «We have aligned ourselves with the average – explains Andrea Guandalini of the Marconi bar – and we have not done so recently. I don’t think we will increase further.” Words also repeated by other colleagues. Roberta Di Sebastini of the Bistrot bar in Civita Castellana: «For now the price remains the same and I have no intention of increasing it», as do the sisters Kaori and Samira Mauro of Tivilù: «There is no intention of increasing the price also because the Ours is a young business and we recently started again at the Tivilù bar.”
Luca Telli
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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