Coffee machine sales perk up as price of takeway soars
THE soaring cost of takeaway coffee has caused an upsurge in demand for at-home espresso makers.
Alex Baldock, chief executive of Currys, said shoppers were increasingly making coffee at home because of higher prices at chains.
He said: “Lots of customers are saying that the £3.75 flat white is not something they’re up for this year. They want their coffee at home, which is good for ‘bean-to-cup’ coffee machines.”
Sales of coffee machines during the two weeks leading up to Black Friday on November 24 were 105 per cent higher than they were the same period last year, Currys said.
Demand has increased as people look to counteract a jump in the price of takeaway coffee.
The average price of a latte – the best selling coffee in Britain – jumped by 11.3 per cent to £3.25 last year, according to coffee consultancy Allegra.
The cost of a flat white rose 30p to an average of £3.14. Before the pandemic, the average price of a latte was £2.67, while a flat white was £2.66.
The public has had to swallow steep price rises on the high street as the cost of ingredients, fuel and labour has soared. Depending on how much coffee someone drinks, switching to making it at home can save hundreds of pounds a year.
The cost of the machines varies, reaching into the hundreds of pounds for high-end models. However, the beans themselves are considerably more affordable: a 227g bag of Colombian Coffee Beans from Waitrose costs £3.75, just 20p more than a latte from Pret a Manger. A 227g bag of coffee can yield as many as 20 cups.
As well as helping people manage the cost of a morning brew, Currys said coffee machines were in demand as more people worked from home.