Coffee crisis in Donaueschingen: Why the price is rising so much!

Coffee crisis in Donaueschingen: Why the price is rising so much!

In recent years, the coffee price situation in Germany has changed dramatically, and this is particularly noticeable in the cafés of Donaueschingen. Whether it's an espresso at Café Vanillis or a cappuccino at Gran Café Vittoria, prices have risen, and there are reasons for that.

On average, Germans drink between 163 and 169 liters of coffee per year, which corresponds to around three to four cups per day. This enthusiasm for the caffeinated drink was also evident in Donaueschingen, where the owners of cafés like Vanessa Lehmann and Roberto Da Ros had to adjust their prices. An espresso in Café Vanillis costs 2.50 euros and in Gran Café Vittoria it costs 2.60 euros. However, Da Ros, who values ​​the quality of his coffee, explains that his guests are happy to pay for the good taste.

Price increase and its causes

According to current figures, consumer prices for coffee beans rose by an impressive 12.2 percent in April 2025 compared to the previous year. That's more than the general food price increase of 2.8 percent. A look at green coffee imports shows that many factors contributed to this: Import prices for unroasted coffee beans were 53 percent higher than last year, mainly due to crop failures caused by extreme weather such as droughts and forest fires in key producing countries. Brazil, as Germany's largest supplier, had a particularly warm year in 2024, which led to massive production bottlenecks.

However, it is not just the weather that is responsible for the price increase. General inflation and rising personnel costs have also played their part. In Donaueschingen, personnel costs make up around 30-40% of the final price. However, the owner Vanessa Lehmann of Café Vanillis was still able to buy some of her coffee beans at the old price, which helps her keep the costs somewhat within limits. Your loyal regular customers have a pain threshold of four euros for a coffee and are willing to come regularly even in difficult times, even if they then perhaps switch to other drinks.

Coffee as a quality of life

For many people, going to the café is not just a matter of enjoyment, but an integral part of their everyday life. The cafés in Donaueschingen not only offer delicious drinks, but also a meeting place, especially for mothers. Da Ros emphasizes that he sees coffee as part of the quality of life and wants his prices to remain affordable for customers. Despite rising prices, drinking coffee remains a small luxury that is valued.

In times when every euro counts, it is exciting to see how the catering industry reacts and adapts to the new challenges. Even if the price of coffee rises, the enjoyment remains unbroken. And who knows? Maybe your next cup of coffee at Café Vanillis or Gran Café Vittoria will taste twice as good – simply because of the story behind every sip.

What remains is the anticipation of the next coffee - and the conversation about the latest developments in the world of coffee. The future will show how prices develop, but one thing is certain: the love for coffee remains unbroken, and Donaueschingen continues to be a real hotspot for coffee lovers.

For more information on the rising prices, you can read the reports from Black Forest messenger, South Courier and daily news read up.