The market research of the Styrian Labor Chamber compared 213 coffee products and increased prices. The research shows that the differences and therefore also the savings potential are huge – up to 600 percent!
Almost exactly 1000 cups of coffee drinks the average Austrian of the year, that is, 2.75 Häferl per day, as a Tschibo survey recently discovered. In accordance with this, she has now raised Styria Chamber or Labor, how much such a cup of coffee, when we prepare it at home, actually cost. The differences are huge.
From April 14 to May 2, 2025, the market research department on the Graz markets – Billa, Penny, SPAR, Hofer, Lidl, Denns Biomarkt, Tchibo and Nespresso Boutique – coffee in capsules, pads, discs and also undergone in whole beans. The testers bought 213 products in eight stores. Packages of one kilo were purchased on all beans, with capsules and pads/discs the varieties espresso and lungo/café crema. At the price per cup, the researchers from eight grams of beans went.
Discs the most expensive average
The total results show all the large differences: on average a cup of capsule coffee costs 40 cents, a bean cup 17 cents, one with pad 21 and one with disc 43 cents. The disk cup was on average the most expensive.
However, the figures in the individual categories are really useful, because the differences are enormous – especially with the capsules. The cheapest variant, the Clever Classico, 15 cents per cup (2.99 euros for 110 grams), the most expensive – Nespuo Mug Kahawa y Congo Organic – costs 1.05 euros (10.50 euros for 125 grams). “The price difference here is 90 cents or 600 percent,” writes the Labor Chamber. But even in the Nespresso range, a cup of 0.49 cents can be used (Volluto Original Collection).
Cheapest varied VOM discounts
If you buy your coffee in whole beans, the difference is also considerable: discount Penny, Lidl and Hofer offer a kilo of 9.99 euros (Bellarom Caffee Crema Gustoso, Barissimo Caffè Gustoso, Veense composition). That makes eight cents per cup and therefore the cheapest variant in the entire test! Those who actually drink 2.75 cups per day end up for the costs of only 80.30 euros per year.
The blend of Julius Meinl ends up in Billa in the Premium segment. 31.99 euros per kilo make 26 cents per cup – a difference of 22 euros or around 220 percent.
Filling quantities make the difference
For pads and discs, consumers have the choice between the cheapest variant with 9 cents per cup (Kiss Bellarom Caffe Crema from Lidl) and 0.48 cents per cup (Schijf Tassimo Morning Café Strong & Intens at Spar/Billa). In this category and the capsules, the price difference according to the market researchers “of the different filling quantities on the one hand and on the other hand from the fact that the different producers use different quantities to cross a cup of coffee”.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
