Aussie hit with 'outrageous' charge for takeaway coffee on public holiday

"I know there's a surcharge, but is this excessive?" 

A cafe-goer in East Melbourne was taken aback by the hefty price of his takeaway coffee over the recent public holiday weekend.

 

David, known on TikTok as @thebearded86, shared that his medium almond milk cappuccino cost a staggering $8.18 on Monday.

Speaking to Yahoo, David admitted he knew there would be a public holiday surcharge but was surprised by the 15% increase, coupled with an additional card fee.

"Don't get me wrong, I know almond milk costs extra, but I think 15% is excessive," he remarked.

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Image: TikTok

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"Is this excessive?"

"The cafe was full! People were outside. And there weren't that many staff. So, whilst I acknowledge they need to pay penalty rates, I thought it was excessive," he continued. 

He also took to TikTok to share his thoughts, claiming "I'm not a tight ass" before asking his followers whether they thought it was excessive too. 

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His comment section quickly lit up with reactions, with one person sharing they paid $9.50 for coffee in Canberra on the public holiday.

"It's a joke," someone else weighed in. "Then they want support for small business. How?"

Other comments ranged from light-hearted to critical: "Did they fly it in from Italy?" one person quipped, while another asked, "Did they grow the coffee beans in front of you?"

And another suggested, "Better coffee at 7-Eleven for $2."

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People defended the price tag

However, not everyone was outraged.

Some defended the small business owners, pointing out the high wages that staff earn on public holidays.

"The person that served you gets paid $50+/h today," one user noted.

Another emphasised, "People forget takeaway coffee is a luxury, not a necessity. For cafes to make a profit, they're going to have to raise their prices, unfortunately."

Despite this, David responded: "I get it. Although it was packed. People everywhere. Outdoors. Footy was also on. They knew how to milk it."

Originally published as Aussie hit with 'outrageous' charge for takeaway coffee on public holiday