The surge in coffee prices: how inflation is changing our habits, from our daily cup to luxury at home
The cost of inflation on our daily cup
The cost of living continues to rise, with an average price increase of 18% recorded over the last three years. Despite a recent slowdown in food inflation (+1.5% between 2024 and 2025), some products are still experiencing strong growth.
Coffee is a striking example: its price has increased by 37% in one year. In 2025, the price of 500 grams of coffee will reach 10.59€, compared to 6.79€ in 2022.
Other products have also seen dramatic increases since 2022:
| Product | Price Increase (between 2022 and 2025) | Details and context |
| Olive oil | 87% | |
| Chocolate bar | 44% | This is one of the products that continues to see strong growth. |
| Coffee | 43% | Price per 500 grams: €6.79 in 2022 versus €10.59 in 2025 |
| Pure orange juice | 20% | |
| Granulated sugar | 6-7% per year recently | INSEE indicates +6.1% over one year (2024 => 2025) but the overall increase since 2022 is the most moderate. |
It should be noted that, while some products such as coffee, sugar and chocolate continue to see their prices rise inexorably, other products have seen a price decrease over the same period, notably black tea (-17.90%), crisps (-11.10%) or T55 flour (-11%).
Causes of the rise and growth of "homemade" coffee
One of the main reasons for this inflation is the freefall in global coffee production , particularly in Brazil, due to climate change and drought which are resulting in smaller harvests. At the same time, global demand is exploding , driven in part by China .
Faced with soaring prices and the cost of living crisis, consumers are increasingly encouraged to prepare their coffee at home:
- Deloitte's 2024 global study indicates that more than half of respondents (55%) were deterred from consuming coffee outside the home by rising prices.
- 70% of consumers report preparing their coffee at home daily . In France, this proportion also reaches 70%.
This change in habits is reinforced by the strong growth of teleworking , making home preparation extremely popular globally.
The rise of "homebrewing" and the decline of the coffee pod
This change in habits promotes the rise of the " " Homebrewing ." In France, consumers are changing their habits, moving away from coffee pods. The price per cup is eight times cheaper when using whole bean coffee. rather than capsules. Bean-to-cup machines have become more accessible, their prices having been halved or even reduced by two-thirds in recent years. Globally, this trend is also fueled by the strong growth of remote work , which has made preparing coffee at home extremely popular. This trend values personalization. and the convenience of homemade coffee. Social media has popularized " coffee at home ," highlighting aesthetics and self-expression to counter rising prices.
The paradox of luxury: from convenience to performance
The rise of home coffee reflects a cultural shift where luxury is linked to ritual , equipment , and display . Buyers are creating dedicated " coffee corners ," now among the most requested features during kitchen renovations.
Status markers in the coffee industry have changed:
- A major capsule brand, once synonymous with design-focused domestic refinement and an ambitious lifestyle (embodied by George Clooney), has lost its appeal through its success and accessibility, with ubiquity eroding its exclusivity.
- For the wealthiest, the new luxury is no longer convenience, but commitment and performance .
Individuals with incomes are investing in miniaturized, semi-professional espresso machines (costing between €3,000 and €10,000) for their kitchens. These machines, like those from La Marzocco, have become decorative objects .
In conclusion, " luxury coffee " has become a matter of ritual , equipment , and image , rather than simple convenience. The appeal of semi-professional machines lies precisely in the fact that they are expensive, exclusive, and impractical.
Sources for comparative table of food prices
https://bienmangerchezsoi.fr/2025/07/31/inflation-alimentaire-2025-prix-reels-panier-groce/
https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8569918
Other sources:
https://www.deloitte.com/ch/fr/Industries/consumer/perspectives/coffee-study.html