‘Daylight robbery’: Aussie slams ‘ridiculous’ price for two coffees

The Brisbane woman’s complaint is set to become more common as coffee prices skyrocket this year.

“How much is too much to pay for coffee, even when you take into account the public holiday surcharge?”

This was the question a Brisbane local posed to her followers during the recent summer holidays.

“I just popped out to grab some coffee,” began content creator and podcast host Phoebe Parson in her now-viral TikTok video.

“I know that it is New Year’s Day, so the places that are open will have a public holiday surcharge … totally fine. I understand why you have to do that from a business perspective,” she continued before revealing the eye-watering price of the two coffees.

“We got two small cappuccinos, six ounces each – mine on almond milk and his on oat milk – and it was $15.”

She concluded her clip by expressing her shock at the price of the 177ml drinks, which cost $7.50 each.

“What?! I’m actually shocked at how much these coffees cost,” she said, adding that she would expect to pay a similar amount for regular-sized coffees but not for small ones.

News.com.au has reached out to Ms Parson for comment.

Her viewers echoed her sentiments, sharing that they had also spent “insane” amounts on coffee recently.

“This is daylight robbery,” claimed one user.

“Hubby paid $19.80 for two small iced long blacks in Newcastle this morning,” said another woman, saying she nearly “collapsed” in shock.

“I just was charged $8.10. Thought that was a bit much,” someone else revealed.

“My iced latte today was $13.80 with the surcharge,” a fourth person wrote.

Others mentioned they were now boycotting cafes and opting for caffeine fixes elsewhere.

“I ended up buying a nice barista-style coffee machine,” one commenter shared. “It’s been a game changer for my family. We get freshly brewed coffee.”

Meanwhile, some backed the prices, arguing they were “legit” when broken down.

“That’s pretty cheap and standard,” one person argued. “It’s not that bad,” wrote another.

“Sounds right if you paid by card and with a surcharge. $6 each (milk included) + 20 per cent + card surcharge,” said another user.

Ms Parson responded, “I thought a normal surcharge was 10-15 per cent?”

Some noted that the rising price of coffee beans was contributing to the soaring operating costs.

“Realistically, most cafes are lucky to be making $0.50 profit on a $7-$8 coffee when you take all the expenses into account,” pointed out one commenter.

An Aussie shared the ridiculous price of two coffees. Picture: TikTok/PhoebeParson

Experts warn that a single cup could cost between $8 and $12 by the end of 2025.

Wes Lambert, chief executive of the Australian Restaurant and Café Association, explained that the skyrocketing costs of beans are putting direct pressure on cafe owners.

“This is happening all around Australia and is affecting every cafe,” Mr Lambert told Nine News.

“Up to 30 per cent of businesses will feel heavy pressure due to these increases, and we’ve heard about bean prices rising by as much as 50 per cent.”

He added, “The supply chain to cafes and restaurants, including beans, is often affected by weather.”

“If you want to enjoy your favourite cafe, you may have to pay more.”

This warning comes as the price of Arabica beans, the world’s most popular variety, continues to rise.

On December 10, the price of this bean surpassed US$3.44 (around $5.53 AUD), having increased by more than 80 per cent in 2024.

The Brisbane local paid $15 for two small takeaway coffees. Picture: TikTok/PhoebeParson

RMIT logistics and supply chain management professor Vinh Thai explained in August that several factors contribute to the rising cost of coffee beans.

“First, extreme weather has wreaked havoc on key supply markets such as Brazil and Vietnam,” Mr Thai said.

“The continuing increase in container shipping rates and other supply chain issues, where most coffee bean shipments are transported, also greatly contributes to the cost.”

“Roasters may need to pass these costs onto cafes, which in turn may do the same to customers. This will likely add further pressure and negatively affect the lifestyles of customers who are already dealing with the cost of living.

“If customers choose to change their coffee habits, it might threaten the Australian coffee industry, which employed almost 70,000 people as of 2023.

“In the meantime, coffee importers and roasters could look to alternative markets to alleviate cost pressures. They could also increase their purchasing power and bulk-buy coffee by collaborating with peak bodies such as the Australian Coffee Traders Association.”