Cafe owner hits back after influencer complained coffee fee

A juice bar owner has defended businesses that charge more for almond milk coffees after a social media influencer blasted the extra fee. 

Brisbane podcaster and fitness instructor Phoebe Parsons posted to TikTok on Tuesday questioning why her cappuccino with the milk alternative was $1.50 extra.

‘I know that almond milk does cost a little bit more than dairy milk. But does it cost that much that it warrants a full $1.50 elevation?’ she said. 

‘And that’s not just almond milk, that’s soy milk, that’s oat milk, that’s all of the milk alternatives.’

Melonhead owner John Kanaanin defended the extra charge even though he keeps his prices the same at his venue at Coogee, in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs. 

He explained it cost ‘nearly double the price’ for bosses to buy the milk alternative. 

‘So it is roughly $2.50 to $3.50 for two litres of full cream or skim milk, and $4 to $4.50 for a one-litre almond, soy, oat or macadamia alternative,’ he told Yahoo.

Mr Kanaanin said because he sells more smoothies than coffees, he does charge $1 extra for plant-based milks in those, and uses 10 to 15 cartons a day.

The juice bar owner also said that a one litre carton of almond milk would roughly make four to five regular-sized coffees.

But a 700ml smoothie requires a lot more milk, which is why he charges the additional $1.

‘We don’t charge extra for those alternatives in coffee because we don’t sell many coffees,’ he said.

‘I guess it’s also an extra incentive for people to come to us in winter time.’ 

Mr Kanaanin said that cafes are being forced to make tough decisions about charging customers extra due to inflation, as well as sky-rocketing rents and wage increases.

Aussies did agree with Ms Parsons, saying the extra $1.50 for milk alternatives was too much.

‘$1.50 is extreme, 50 to 80 cents is fairer,’ one wrote.

‘Years ago when alternative milk wasn’t as popular, I understood the extra. But nowadays with the cost of dairy and more options with alternative milks, I really wonder if it makes a difference at all,’ another wrote.

‘Also the cost of cow milk is in the coffee. Like they’re adding the cost on top of the cow milk so they’re charging like $2.50 for the alt milk,’ another said. 

Others defended cafes for adding on the extra fee. 

‘Alternative milk is about double the cost of cows milk, plus the interruption of the flow of the coffee machine by constantly switching between seven different milks add up to a lot of extra time in staff wages,’ one wrote.

‘I work in food distribution, alternative milks are double to price of dairy for us to by and then on sell,’ another said.

‘Unfortunately until those costs go down it’ll still incur charges from cafes.’ 

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