Does it seem like coffee’s getting more expensive every year? Guess what? It is. Back in 1990, buying a cup of Joe would only cost Americans about $1.45—and that is considering inflation. Today, the same cup averages around $2.15. That’s an over 48% increase!
These rising prices sound high and frustrating, but the price of a cup of coffee in the U.S. actually falls somewhere in the middle when compared to other countries worldwide.
Sure, no one likes shelling out more for our favorite buzzy beverage, but least we’re not confronting prices like the $6.50 a cup in Doha, Qatar or $6.25 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Those prices even make New York City’s average of $3.15 a cup sound cheap. However, after comparing that to the average price of $0.74 in Lisbon, you might be tempted to hop on the next flight to Portugal.
When it comes to comparing different drinks, there’s a significant global price range as well. By using Starbucks as an example, a cappuccino costs around $6 in Berlin, but only $4.41 in Paris. For a tall latté, expect to pay a reasonable $3.75 in Brazil in comparison to the staggering $7.00 you’ll get for the same drink in Saudi Arabia.
So, why is there such a discrepancy when it comes to coffee prices worldwide? And does the gap widen when it comes to just making an at-home cup?
Coffee Prices Around the World
First off, let’s take a quick look at the average 2018 price of a cup of coffee in several nations around the world according to UBS.
2018 Price of Coffee Worldwide
Doha | $6.40 |
Copenhagen | $6.24 |
Dubai | $5.70 |
Zurich | $4.98 |
Beijing | $4.42 |
Moscow | $4.31 |
London | $3.88 |
New York City | $3.12 |
Toronto | $2.23 |
Milan | $1.33 |
Istanbul | $1.41 |
Bogota | $1.63 |
Rome | $0.99 |
Lisbon | $0.74 |
Lagos | $0.62 |
Why Does the Price of Coffee Differ Worldwide?
There’s no single answer to this complicated question, but it is possible to point to a few standout factors that often affect coffee’s price. Here are a few significant reasons contributing to this global price fluctuation.
Much of the Western world can’t imagine a morning without coffee. However, in places like China where tea is king, residents often see coffee as a luxurious splurge. It’s any harder to import coffee into Beijing vs. the U.S., but foreign coffee companies like Starbucks have ingeniously marketed coffee as an indulgent, exotic drink worth the price.
The cost of living also makes a huge difference. Cities like Zurich and Dubai are notoriously expensive, so it’s no surprise that ordering a cup of coffee would cost more too.
Each country’s financial structure can also sway the final prices. For example, that $6.24 cup in Copenhagen is likely thanks not only to Denmark’s higher taxes but also because tipping isn’t part of Danish culture. Therefore, the barista’s living wage must be factored into the overall product cost.
What Does It Cost to Brew Coffee At Home Worldwide?
Though a daily coffee shop trip is a common routine for many, most people still choose to make their brew at home to save some cash and get that jolt the moment they wake up. So, how does the home-brewed coffee compare worldwide?
From Folgers to specialty, small-batch roasters there’s a huge price variation when it comes to coffee. To simplify our comparison, let’s say we’re comparing beans from a larger specialty roasting company like Peet’s or Starbucks which lands at around $12/pound in the U.S. You can get 48 6 oz. cups of coffee per pound, which equates to approximately $0.25 per at-home cup of coffee.
For a quick peek at other prices around the globe, a pound of roasted beans in the coffee mecca of Costa Rica lands at around $9, or only $0.18 per cup. However, in Finland, a similar one-pound bag costs closer to $26/pound or $0.54 per cup. Lastly, the price of an at home cup for our friend’s down under in Australia matches the U.S. at just about $0.25.
Or when comparing our beloved drip coffee with the UK’s favorite way to consume coffee at-home—instant coffee—the UK may win in terms of price as each cup equates to about $0.10. However, do they really win when drinking the powdered stuff? To each their own, but we’ll happily stick with freshly ground, perfectly roasted beans.
Looking for incredible, high-quality coffee from one of the best destinations on Earth? Try Carta Coffee Merchants made from 100% Pure Kona Coffee. Our beans are proudly hand-harvested and hand-roasted on our family farm on the Big Island of Hawaii. Taste the Carta Coffee difference in your own home and order a bag today.
