Italian Espresso Prices Rise by 24.2 Percent Over Five Years

The average price of an espresso at an Italian bar has risen to 1.29 euros, representing a 24.2 percent increase compared to 2021. According to a study by the Center for Training and Research on Consumption (Crc) and Assoutenti, based on official data from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, the cost has increased by an average of 25 cents over five years. Prices vary significantly by region. Bolzano has the highest average price at 1.51 euros, followed by Pescara at 1.49 euros. Eleven provinces have reached or exceeded the 1.40 euro threshold. Conversely, Messina is the most affordable city at 1.06 euros, followed by Catanzaro at 1.08 euros. Only a few provinces, including Rome, Aosta, and Varese, maintain prices below 1.20 euros.

When analyzing the rate of increase since 2021, Pescara saw the highest jump at 49 percent, followed by Parma at 41 percent, Bari at 39.5 percent, and Naples at 37.8 percent. The lowest increases were recorded in Aosta at 6.7 percent, and around 15 percent in Cagliari, Biella, and Reggio Emilia. Furio Truzzi, president of the Crc scientific committee, noted that these increases are not driven by raw material costs, as Robusta and Arabica prices have declined from their 2025 peaks. Instead, the price hikes are attributed to rising energy and management costs for business owners.

Consumer habits are shifting in response to these costs. Assoutenti reports a 33 percent increase in the sale of coffee beans in 2026, as more Italians prefer beans over pods and capsules. This trend may threaten the traditional dominance of the bar espresso. Additional risks to the supply chain include logistical disruptions in Colombia due to a 7.4 magnitude earthquake and general market volatility caused by weather events in Brazil and Vietnam.