Geraldton coffee price survey: Some local cafes charging $7-$8 for large coffee with alternative milk

It’s an everyday pleasure many are still not willing to sacrifice despite the cost-of-living crisis, but a recent survey of Geraldton coffee prices has revealed customers are paying up to $8 for their caffeine fix. The Geraldton Guardian canvassed the pricing of most local cafes and found the cost for a standard cup of coffee was about $6 on average, while some were charging $7-$8 for a large. While most cafes were charging between 50-70¢ extra for alternative milk like almond, oat, skim and soy, a handful were charging $1-$1.50 for the non-dairy options. As grocery prices soar, so do the costs associated with eating and drinking out. People in WA are forking out more for their coffee, and even more if they don’t stick to cow’s milk, as cafes deal with rising freight costs and issues attracting staff with little to no affordable rentals. In the Guardian’s survey, a large flat white with oat milk at the Beached Barrel on the foreshore was $8, including $1.50 for the alternative milk. The same order at Salt Dish and AJ’s Beach Cafe was $7, although the 16oz takeaway cup size was noticeably bigger at Beached Barrel. But the survey had immediate effect on the Beached Barrel’s pricing. After the Geraldton Guardian contacted them, they now charge a standard 50¢ for alternative milk no matter the size of the cup, meaning the $8 coffee from last week would now cost $7. AJ’s charge $1 more for alternative milks, as do Soul Food Cafe. The next most expensive place in town for a large flat white with oat milk was franchise chain Dome, with a $6.90 price tag. The only cafe surveyed by the Guardian which does not charge extra for alternative milk is Flowvitality on Gregory Street, which also have some of the cheapest coffee in town. For a dine-in coffee at Flowvitality it’s $5 and a takeaway is $5.50, with the option to bring in a keep cup to save 50¢. Owner Renee Doyle said since she opened almost a decade ago, the cafe always carried alternative milk and never bumped up coffee prices. “We just saw a need that people needed (alternative) milk. A lot of people have allergies, those sorts of things happening, but personally, I just think people shouldn’t be charged for something that they can’t help,” she said. “Also, I understand that people just love the flavour now and that they’re switching and becoming more conscious and aware of things that go into their bodies, but it is something that we’ve always carried since we opened almost a decade ago, and will continue to do so. “There’s no waste here, we go through so much of it so often, nothing gets opened and left.” Ms Doyle said although it was great cutting the cost of alternative milk, there was a price difference and the cafe wore the cost. “For me, it’s a moral compass. I understand that I am running a business and we do have to make a net profit, but it’s also about giving back as well,” she said. “Fresh produce is expensive so some of our food items have had to go up and they sort of counteract our coffee. “It’s just such a coffee culture now and we love that we can just be a part of that and an affordable part of that.” The Sunday Times reported this week that some WA cafes were charging up to $2 extra for alternative milk, on top of already ballooning prices for a standard brew. When you add in extra shots and other additional costs like syrup, a large coffee these days is creeping closer to $10. Social research group McCrindle has examined Australian coffee trends and found while full-cream milk and skim milk were still the top milk preferences across every generation, a growing number were turning to alternative milks. One in every five Gen Zs will order their coffee with oat milk, compared to one in every 50 baby boomers. “Based on what I know of different generations, my hypothesis would be that for older generations who are using alternative milk it is more out of necessity,” social researcher and trends analyst Ashley Fell said. “Whereas I think the younger generation for Gen Zs and millennials is a little bit more on the health or perceived health benefits.” Two in five Australians spend less than $10 a week on coffee, and almost 78 per cent prefer to make their coffee at home. According to the insights, 53 per cent of West Australians said they drink up to two cups of coffee a day. WA coffee lovers also spend less on their brew than the average Australian, with 49 per cent spending less than $10 a week compared to 41 per cent of drinkers nationally. “I think the cost of living is driving this trend where we are seeing more people make coffee at home, or make coffee at their place of employment rather than going out and buying it,” Ms Fell said. Millennials are the most likely generation to spend $30 or more on coffee each week (18 per cent) compared to Gen Z (13 per cent), Gen X (8 per cent) and baby boomers (4 per cent). “The cost of housing has become such a big issue and so expensive that there’s been a little bit of apathy towards some of those bigger financial goals. So they’re turning towards some of those lifestyle pursuits and something even as simple as your daily coffee, which for many Australians can bring a lot of joy,” Ms Fell said. COFFEE PRICES IN GERALDTON Beached Barrel: small: $4.50, medium: $5.50, large: $6.50 (50¢, $1 or $1,50 for alternative milk depending on order size)*After survey reduced alternative milk surcharge to 50¢ across the board AJ’s Beach Cafe: small: $5, medium: 5.50, large: $6 ($1 extra for alternative milk) Salt Dish: regular: $5, large: $6.50 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Dome Geraldton: regular: $5.40, large: $6.40 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Soul Food: small: $4.70, medium: $5.20, large: $5.70 ($1 extra for alternative milk) Two Foreshore: small: $4.50, medium: $5 and large: $6 (60¢ extra for alternative milk) Jaffle Shack: small: $4, medium: $5, large: $6 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Kai Lani: regular: $5, large: $6 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Laian: one size (regular) $6 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Piper Lane: small: $5, large: $5.50 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Casa Dolce: small: $4.50, large: $5.50 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Cafe Fleur: regular: $4.90, large $5.40, extra large: $6.40 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Tarts and Co: One size (regular) $5 (50¢ extra for alternative milk) Flowvitality: $5 for dine-in, $5.50 for takeaway (no extra for alternative milk) Regular milk prices + extra for alternative milk; as of Friday, January 19