What a Barista, a Farmer, and a Regular Taught Me About Raising Prices
If you’ve ever sat in your favorite local café, sipping a perfectly crafted flat white, and thought, “This should cost more,” well... you're onto something.
Lately, there’s been a quiet buzz behind the baristas and the beans: coffee prices are going up. But not just for you. For us, the makers, brewers, grinders, and dreamers behind your favorite cup, things are getting real. Fast.
And that brings up a question that every café owner, including myself, is wrestling with:
How much should we raise our prices?
Let’s talk about it.
When Beans Start Talking Back
Okay, maybe they’re not actually talking. But if they could, they’d tell you a story, about tariffs, climate shifts, labor shortages, and transport delays. Coffee, especially the kind you love (hand-picked, ethically sourced, with notes of citrus and nostalgia), is getting harder and more expensive to bring to your cup.
Just last week, I was chatting with our green bean supplier, Luis, from Colombia. He said something that stuck with me:
“We can’t give what we don’t have. Prices must rise, not just to survive, but to keep quality alive.”
That hit me. Because we’re not just in the business of beverages, we’re in the business of relationships. With farmers. With customers. With the morning ritual.
And when the cost of beans goes up 20–30%, but our cappuccinos are still the same price they were in 2019, well… something’s gotta give.
The $7 Latte Dilemma
So here’s the heart of it:
Do we raise the price of a latte to $5.50? $6? Gasp $7?
It feels like a betrayal of that cozy, affordable corner coffee shop vibe. But it’s also a question of respect, for the people who grow the beans, roast them with care, and stand on their feet all day to serve you joy in a cup.
Let me tell you about a regular named Cam. She comes in every morning at 7:03 a.m., orders a vanilla oat milk latte, and always leaves a tip with a smile. When we tested a small price increase last month, she noticed. She didn’t complain. Instead, she said:
“Honestly, it’s still the best $6 I spend all day.”
That, my friends, is what keeps us going.
The Invisible Costs Behind Every Cup
Here’s what your coffee money covers:
Fair wages for baristas (because latte art doesn’t just happen!)
Sustainably sourced beans (no shady middlemen)
Rent, utilities, milk, cups, and even oat milk that’s weirdly more expensive than gas right now
Equipment maintenance (espresso machines are like needy race cars)
We don’t want to cut corners. We want to elevate the experience. But to do that, we need to be real with pricing.
So... How Much is Too Much?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some shops are adjusting prices slowly, 25 to 50 cents at a time. Others are bundling in value: offering loyalty perks, better beans, seasonal specials.
We’re exploring that too. Do we go up by a dollar and give you something extra? A story card about the farmer? A discount for bringing your own mug? A smile is always free, of course.
This isn’t just a pricing issue. It’s a community decision.
What Do You Think?
We want to hear from you. Not in a “complain about $6 lattes” kind of way, but in a “let’s figure this out together” kind of way.
Have you noticed price increases at your favorite coffee spot? Did it change how often you go? What do you think a great cup of coffee is worth?
Even though this blog doesn’t have a comments section, we’d still love your input. Shoot us a message on Instagram, or vote in our weekly story poll. Your voice matters more than you know, just like your morning coffee ritual.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about margins and menus. It’s about moments. And those are worth investing in.
