By Manuela Vega
Coffee chains Starbucks and Tim Hortons have increased menu items by 10 to 30 cents this year alone, reported CBC.
Still, Ryerson students have said they will continue to drink coffee, whether that is by adjusting to the new prices or making their own at home.
(Map by Zachary Roman)
“I’m a tired, exhausted university student is why I drink coffee,” said third-year media production student, Liam Hart. “I always just go to Tim’s or McDonald’s or something where I can get it for cheap.”
Hart spends about $2 on coffee a day, but this regular coffee drinker says he sometimes splurges on a drink from a local business owner. Although he looks down on “corporate greed,” he says rising coffee prices will not end his habit.
“Worst comes to worst, I still live with my parents. They have a coffee machine at home,” he said. “I can prep. I just usually don’t have time in the morning, so I buy it.”
(Video by Ekram Labas)
Similarly, second-year accounting and finance student Caitlin Johnson feels that she needs coffee and would be willing to adjust her budget to ensure that she is able to get her caffeine.
“It just kinda wakes me up, gets me through my day, gives me a little bit boost of happiness,” said Johnson. “I need it to get through the day.”
Although Johnson is willing to put in the extra money, she wishes prices wouldn’t rise.
“That really sucks,” said Johnson. “Especially when you drink it as much as I do, ‘cause like we’re not making any more money.”
(ThingLink by Zachary Roman)
The minimum wage in Ontario rose from $11.60 to $14 on Jan. 1, 2018 under the Liberal government and was planned to go up another dollar in 2019. The new Progressive Conservative government decided to keep the minimum wage at $14.
When Tim Hortons raised prices for certain menu items in January, a spokesperson told CBC that it did not have to do with the wage increase, and that “many factors are considered when determining the final price of each menu offering.”
Drinking coffee has become part of the daily routine for second-year sports media student Dylan Hammond.
“I can’t imagine the coffee prices would go up too [dramatically] in amount to make me stop buying coffee,” said Hammond. “I don’t budget for coffee. I usually just go until I look at my bank account and go ‘Holy crap, I’m spending a lot of money.’”
Since Sept. 18, global coffee prices have increased by about 22 cents, a rise of about 23 per cent, according to MacroTrend.Net.
Leave a Reply