Hot drink prices outpace fast food as seasonal specials surge
Limited-time drinks now cost 22% to 25% more than regular options.
The average price of hot drinks was up nearly 9% year on year in September, outpacing the roughly 7% rise across fast food, according to Meaningful Vision’s report.
Staples like cappuccinos and lattes climbed by about 9%, whilst niche or seasonal drinks saw steeper hikes.
Limited-time offerings such as pumpkin spice and gingerbread lattes now cost 22% to 25% more than regular drinks—an annual increase of about 11%.
Price differences between fast-food chains and coffee specialists remain stark. A basic drink at McDonald’s or Popeyes sits at around £1.99, whilst major coffee chains like Costa and Starbucks charge about £4, and premium brands such as Joe & The Juice, WatchHouse, and Gails can reach £4.30—a gap of over 100%.
Coffee purchased through delivery apps incurs an additional premium. Delivery markups average around 15%, so a £3.80 coffee in-store can easily top £4.35 once delivered.
Delivery prices are also rising faster than in-store prices. Whilst shop prices for popular coffee drinks have risen about 10%, the delivered versions are up roughly 12%, widening the gap by around two percentage points.
“Coffee is amongst the categories we predict will see significant price growth this year,” said Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision.
“Higher prices for delivery and faster price growth in this channel may impact sales, especially with products like hot coffee, which consumers require delivered at a temperature matching their expectations but which often arrives lukewarm or cold, or having been spilled in transit,” she added.
Vanifatova also noted that this helps explain the narrower menus and why customers often rate delivery experiences worse than visits to the store.
