A $28 jar of coffee highlights a huge issue that Aussies are facing

The cost of living just keeps rising and there’s one item at Woolies that has surged 16.6 per cent and it is causing customers to rage.

A surprising item in supermarket aisles is surging in price as Aussies are forced to make sacrifices during their weekly shops.

When news.com.au visited a packed Woolworths on Wednesday, a jar of 400gram Moccona Freeze Dried Instant Coffee Classic was marked at a staggering $28.

In 2021 that same jar was selling for only $24 dollars - meaning the increase is 16.6 per cent. Currently, inflation is 7.9 per cent in Australia, yet shoppers are now expected to pay double that increase for their caffeine hit.

The price of coffee is soaring. Source: supplied

Louise isn’t impressed by the rising cost of living. Source:

When you work out the percentage it really puts into perspective the dramatic increase, with shoppers forced to cut some of their favourite products from their budgeting.

The rise in price of Moccona coffee has been noticed by customers, and some have even taken to social media to vent.

One pointed out on Twitter that Aldi is selling the exact same jar of coffee for only $20.

@woolworths Why are you taking advantage of inflation. Moccona# coffee 400g was on special you raised it by $1.50,weeks later product on special again and raised the price again by another $1.50 you are taking advantage of inflation.. disgusting Woolworths.#inflation#woolworths

— MandyB (@MandyjBurgess) January 13, 2023

Hey @woolworths, where can I find the documentation that says how long your ‘Every Day Low Price!’ lasts for..?

Example: Moccona instant 400gm had an every day low price of $20 - for about a month.

Now it’s $28. How and when are we supposed to know these things?

— Nemisis #TeamProle (@Nemisis1509) November 16, 2022

When Aldi sell a large jar of Moccona for $20, and make a profit, why have Woolworths just increased theirs from $26, to $28? It is blatant price gouging.

— WR von Sturler (@AugusteReign) March 13, 2023

The price hike is being felt hard, with plenty of mums weighing in on the $28 price tag of coffee in a Facebook group dedicated to sharing cost of living gripes.

“When is inflation going to end? The government needs to realise how many families are struggling,” one wrote.

“It’s actually cheaper to buy ground coffee from your local cafe. I work in a cafe and we sell coffee for $40 a kilo bag,” another commented.

Another added: “Prices are through the roof.”

*Jamie works at Woolworths and she’s hyper aware of the price increase because she’s the one manually changing the prices.

“I used to put stuff up by 10 cents or 20 cents, but now stuff is going up dollars at a time,” she revealed.

She also explained that grocery items are increasing so frequently that staff often don’t have the time to make all the needed increases..

“I’ve been finding even as a shopper that stuff is scanning at a higher amount then advertised on the shelves because someone hasn’t gotten around to changing the price yet,” she explained.

For Jamie, she notices the prices have surged with coffee, cheese, meat and fresh produce.

The supermarket worker has also observed a trend that when she’s instructed to raise the price in any section, often prices of similar products were also marked up.

“Sometimes brands genuinely do need to be marked up, but I think once one product is getting more. Then it becomes a decision for all the brands in that section to be priced at more,” she claimed.

Woolworths is one of the most popular places for Aussies to shop.

Strolling through the heaving Woolworths store in Randwick on Wednesday morning, it was clear that plenty of shoppers were struggling to cope with rising prices.

Nadia, 58, has three children and doesn’t even want to know what she spends on groceries anymore

“It costs me a couple of hundred just to do a top up shop now,” she admitted.

Still, she explained she hasn’t stopped buying anything just yet, although she is feeling the pinch.: “You’ve got to eat right?”

Louise, 33, has admitted that the cost of living has meant she’s moved away from spending as much at Coles and Woolworths.

“I only come to Woolworths now for stuff that I can’t get at Aldi,” she admitted, listing the cost of meat, milk and fresh produce as her main issues.

Susanne, 56, is constantly in awe at the cost of meat.

“I’m still buying meat but at the current cost it definitely hurts,” she said.

Fran, 31, is also struggling to come to terms with her inflated grocery bill.

“It’s definitely gone up. We used to spend about $100, and now we are lucky to keep the bill under $150. If the cost of living keeps rising there’s no doubt we will have to start making cuts in what we do and don’t buy from the grocery store,” she said.

A spokesperson from Woolworths said: “We know value is more important to Australian families now than ever before.

“We have thousands of weekly specials, seasonal Prices Dropped programs, our Odd Bunch fruit & veg range and a vast range of our Own Brand products at Low Prices to help customers’ shops go further.

“Members of our Everyday Rewards program who regularly boost their offers enjoy an extra $210 off their shop each year.”

The general consensus amongst shoppers is that groceries right now are incredibly expensive and they aren’t wrong - just try buying coffee.