A juice bar owner defended companies that charge more for almond milk coffees after a social media influencer criticized the extra fee.
Brisbane podcaster and fitness instructor Phoebe Parsons posted on TikTok on Tuesday asking why her milk alternative cappuccino was $1.50 more.
‘I know almond milk costs a little more than cow’s milk. But does it cost so much that it justifies a total increase of $1.50?’ she said.
“And that’s not just almond milk, it’s soy milk, it’s oat milk, it’s all milk alternatives.”
Melonhead owner John Kanaanin defended the extra charge even though he maintains the same prices at his Coogee location in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Phoebe Parsons (pictured) asked why she had to pay an extra $1.50 for almond milk in her cappuccino and why all non-dairy drinks are charged such a high rate.
He explained that it cost employers “almost twice as much” to buy the milk alternative.
“So it costs approximately $2.50 to $3.50 for two liters of whole or skimmed milk, and $4 to $4.50 for a one-liter almond, soy, oat or macadamia alternative,” he said. yahoo.
Kanaanin said that because he sells more smoothies than coffees, he charges $1 extra for the plant-based milks they contain and uses 10 to 15 cartons a day.
The juice bar owner also said that a one-liter carton of almond milk would make approximately four to five full-size coffees.
But a 700ml shake requires a lot more milk, so you charge an extra $1.
“We don’t charge extra for those alternatives in coffee because we don’t sell many coffees,” he said.
“I guess it’s also an added incentive for people to come to us in the winter.”
Kanaanin said cafes are being forced to make difficult decisions about charging customers more due to inflation, as well as skyrocketing rent and wage increases.
The fitness instructor also said soy milk is “nowhere near” as expensive as nut-based milks, and questioned why soy was included in the price increase (file image)
Melonhead Juice Bar (pictured) is not the coffee shop where the influencer had her coffee, but its owner, John Kanaanin, has advocated for businesses to charge an additional fee as inflation has made it difficult for businesses to survive. coffee shops. Melonhead does not charge extra for milk alternatives in coffee
Australians agreed with Parsons and said an extra $1.50 for milk alternatives was too much.
“$1.50 is extreme, 50-80 cents is fairer,” one wrote.
‘Years ago, when alternative milk wasn’t so popular, I understood the extra. But these days, with the cost of dairy and more options with alternative milks, I really wonder if that makes any difference,” wrote another.
‘Also the cost of cow’s milk is in coffee. Like they’re adding the cost on top of the cow’s milk so they charge like $2.50 for the alternative milk,’ another said.
Others defended cafes for adding the extra fee.
“Alternative milk costs about twice as much as cow’s milk, plus the interruption to the flow of the coffee machine by constantly switching between seven different milks puts a lot of extra time on staff salaries,” one wrote.
“I work in food distribution, alternative milks are twice the price of dairy and then we sell them,” said another.
“Unfortunately, until those costs come down, coffee shops will continue to charge.”