Does more expensive coffee really taste better? We put it to the test

Melbourne is known for its coffee obsession but while some only trust their local barista, others are happy for a servo brew. So which wins out in a blind test? See the results.

It is hard to espresso how much Melbourne loves coffee – but is all coffee made equal?

From latte lovers to flat white fanatics, the city known for its hipster-clad cafes is divided between those who trust only their baristas, and those happy to head to the local servo for their daily caffeine fix.

To get to the bottom of whether price is truly indicative of quality, the Herald Sun conducted a blind taste testing of the humble full-cream milk latte from retailers around Melbourne.

Coffees were sampled from a cafe, 7-Eleven, McDonalds, Coles Express, Starbucks and granulated coffee – judged on taste and justified on price.

The winner of the batch, based on taste, was the Starbucks latte, costing $4.50 – and the equal winners for the most affordable coffee were 7-Eleven and Coles Express at the price of $2.

University student and hospitality worker Alessia Chapman said despite working at a cafe, she typically elected to buy her daily coffee from the local servo.

“I’m saving up for a big overseas trip at the end of the year, so I find that I’m really budgeting my money as tightly as I can and trying to save as much as possible”, Ms Chapman said.

The Herald Sun conducted a blind taste testing of the humble full-cream milk latte from retailers around Melbourne. Picture: Jason Edwards

“Finding a cheaper alternative of coffee was something that I really needed when I drink two or three cups a day – and a barista coffee puts you back about $5 and now I’m only spending $2 per coffee.”

Data from 7-Eleven also revealed a breakdown of the coffees people are enjoying the most in Victoria – with the cappuccino coming out on top overall across the state.

Adam Jacka of 7-Eleven said in the cost of living crisis, most people have been forced to cut costs on daily items.

“Economic pressures are hitting hard and many people – especially young people, like first home buyers and those with mortgages – have had to reassess where they’re spending money,” Mr Jacka said.

“At the end of the day, you absolutely can find good coffee at a good price.”