Dear, dear breakfast. At this rate, drinking a cup of coffee at the bar for 2 euros seems like a concrete and realistic possibility even in the short and medium term. One thing is now certain: the cost of the typical Italian breakfast is steadily rising due to increases in the retail prices of some of the most consumed food products, from butter to coffee to chocolate. %. These increases are reported by a survey carried out by Assoutenti together with the training and research center on consumption, based on retail price lists of butter, roasted coffee, chocolate and over-the-counter coffee in Italy’s main cities.
Where coffee is more expensive at the bar
One of the most noticeable increases is in the consumption of espresso at the bar, where Italians consume almost six billion cups every year: the average price reaches 1.21 euros, 18.1% more than in 2021, and total spending reaches 7.26 billion in 2024. Bolzano determinedly reached this figure. It ranks first among the Italian cities where espresso is most expensive, with an average price of 1.38 euros per person. The cup is followed by Trento (1.35 euros) and Pescara (1.34 euros); this city is also seeing the heaviest price growth (+34% from 2021). In Catanzaro, the cheapest city, the price rises to one euro, while in Rome the average cost is 1.12 euros.
So why did the price of coffee increase? These increases in coffee prices are primarily attributable to extreme climatic events: crops in Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Costa Rica and Honduras were damaged by successive periods of drought and abnormally heavy rainfall, resulting in production collapse. . Thus, the prices of arabica and the “strong blend” in international markets reached their highest levels since the 1970s. As a result, prices in stores and supermarkets have also increased. While today a kilo of coffee is worth an average of 12.66 euros, in 2021 it cost 8.86 euros: an average increase of 42.8%. The peak is reached in Trieste (14.34 euros per kilo), while the cheapest city is Catanzaro (10.36 euros/kg).
Chocolate price in cities
Bad surprises for chocolate lovers too. In recent months, states such as Ghana and Ivory Coast, where most of the raw materials come from, have experienced significant increases in yield due to the climate crisis and plant diseases. The typical 100 gram bar went from an average price of 1.26 euros in 2021 to 1.60 euros last December, representing an increase in prices of almost 27%. Palermo is the place with the highest cost, with an average of 2.08 euros per package, while Milan is in second place (1.73 euros). The lowest prices are in Aosta (1.41 euro) and Trento (1.42 euro).
Butter prices are increasing rapidly
It didn’t end here. Since 2021, the value of butter, which carries the heaviest weight of butter in families’ wallets, on the shelves increased by 48.8 percent, reaching an average of 13.35 euros per kilogram by the end of 2024. Decrease in milk production due to both unfavorable climatic conditions in producing countries and reduced pasture availability in the face of increasing demand. The price of a kilo of butter in Turin is 15.85 euros (the highest average price in Italy), while the cheapest city is Florence (10.07 euros per kg).
raw material crisis
Gabriele Melluso, president of Assoutenti, commented: “The international raw materials crisis, between climate changes, logistics problems, the increase in production costs, directly affects the pockets of Italian consumers and consumer goods, whose prices are ruthlessly rising at retail prices. These price increases risk profoundly changing the habits of families and citizens spending “At this rate, the idea of a 2-euro cup in Italian bars no longer seems possible, but it is a possibility that is becoming more and more real every day.”
Made in Italy ministry criticizes EU
According to the Made in Italy ministry led by Adolfo Urso, the increase in raw material prices is not only the effect of climate change, but also the effect of the new EU regulation on deforestation: “The global raw materials crisis is a 50% increase in consumer goods such as coffee and chocolate, which is unsustainable for developing countries environmental certifications required by law,” Mimit wrote in a note. writes.
“The result is twofold: on the one hand – the ministry underlines – there is a disproportionate increase in costs, which puts pressure on European businesses and consumers; on the other hand, a potential economic crisis for productive countries such as Ethiopia, lacking the ability to adapt to the requirements, will affect all economies and “We are at risk of collapse for millions of people.” Therefore, the Ministry said, “Delaying the implementation of the new regulation is not enough. European policies need to be radically changed through simplification and reduction of burdens, applying a balanced and realistic approach that can combine environmental protection with economy.” sustainability, to prevent further worsening of a crisis that affects both less developed countries and European citizens”.
Source: Today IT
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
