As the cost of living continues to climb, Australians are finding clever ways to stretch their dollars without sacrificing their cherished coffee rituals.

In a surprising twist, many are bypassing their usual café haunts and turning to an unexpected source for their caffeine fix: service station coffees.

Service stations and convenience stores have become the new go-to for a daily brew, as they offer a much more wallet-friendly option than traditional cafés.

This year, 7-Eleven reported a staggering increase of 50,000 cups of coffee sold per week, and similar retailers like Reddy Express, formerly Coles Express, are experiencing comparable growth.

Have you tried coffee from service stations or convenience stores? Credit: Unsplash

Tracy Hammon from Reddy Express highlights the variety available at these unexpected coffee spots.

'There are great choices, it's not a one-size-fits-all out of the machine...we've got cappuccino, latte, long black,' she said.

With a starting price point of $2, a cup from a service station can cost less than half the price of one from a local café.

For those who indulge in a daily coffee, this switch can lead to significant yearly savings—potentially over $1,000.

However, it's not just about the savings. Café owners like Tony Roussos of Degraves Espresso reminded us of the value of supporting local businesses.

'We offer an experience more than just looking at the price of a coffee,' he said.

'Supporting smaller local businesses keeps the community going.'

Despite the shift towards more economical options, it's important to note that the biggest market share still belongs to instant coffee, which holds a 42 per cent grip on the coffee market.

The café industry had also taken a hit with a 1.8 per cent dip in profits in 2024 and more than 700 businesses closing their doors around the country.

If you want to get your caffeine fix at home, you can also try making your own coffee for 30 cents per cup!

Hailed as the best coffee in Australia, this supermarket’s own coffee beans have been crowned as the Overall Large Chain Champion at the prestigious 2024 Golden Bean Australasia Awards.

This exclusive range from ALDI is available for $4.99. You can read more about these award-winning coffee beans here.

Key Takeaways

• Australians are increasingly choosing service station coffees over café options due to cost of living pressures.
• -Eleven reported selling an additional 50,000 cups of coffee per week, indicating a rise in the popularity of servo coffee.
• The café industry has seen a decline in profits and an increase in business closures, challenging local businesses.
• While consumers save money on coffee at service stations, local café owners emphasise the value of community support for small businesses.

Have you found yourself opting for a service station coffee on occasion, or do you remain loyal to your local café? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

 

[Veggiepatch]

‘There are great choices’: How do Aussies beat cost of living spikes with coffee?​

Easy! Don't drink coffee!

It is an unnecessary part of one's diet.

 

[DLHM]

‘There are great choices’: How do Aussies beat cost of living spikes with coffee?​

Easy! Don't drink coffee!

It is an unnecessary part of one's diet.

My morning coffee is one of my few vices.

 

[Clancieblue]

I don't drink soft drink, beer or alcohol of any kind, so I AM having my coffee, but not from a garage.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Living in a small country town, I was originally surprised how many people would buy coffees down the street, when at the most many of them were less than five minutes from home.
Many of them are pensioners and are not overly flush with cash.
But many elderly people are lonely too and I realised that this was more about the company as they sit around together chatting.
Not everything is always about cost.

 

[icemaiden0909]

Have you found that when you go into the service station the $1-2 coffee goes up in price at the check out as there are several criteria to meet for the cheap price eg cup size, day, hour, beverage. So let the consumer be aware.

 

[MAZERATTI]

Cafe owners have justified the hike in coffee prices to $6 by claiming the rise in wages. Ok, but, in major towns and cities these days, every second shop is a Cafe or Restaurant. There is clearly a glut of them out there, all competing against each other. They can't all survive. Us poor old pensioners aren't here to fund these people's fantasies of being the next Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay.

 

[magpie1]

My day would not be the same without my coffee....from first thing in the morning to the last thing at night, and throughout the entire day....maybe it's unhealthy, maybe I drink far too much of it, I'm too old to change my ways. Time to go and put the jug on for another brew.....

 

[Clancieblue]

My day would not be the same without my coffee....from first thing in the morning to the last thing at night, and throughout the entire day....maybe it's unhealthy, maybe I drink far too much of it, I'm too old to change my ways. Time to go and put the jug on for another brew.....

Can't drink instant coffee, I have a Nespresso coffee machine, and I use LOR capsules. I never exceed 2 a day and drink tea and mostly water after that.

 

[PattiB]

Can't drink instant coffee, I have a Nespresso coffee machine, and I use LOR capsules. I never exceed 2 a day and drink tea and mostly water after that.

I have a Lavazza coffee pod machine & need that first mug full before I get out of bed, my amazing husband makes it for us both. I usually only have one each day & have found that I can no longer tolerate instant coffee, but I did need another one at lunch today as we met up with my husband’s brother & wife & she sort of has that effect on me. I usually need more chocolate as well.

 

[Clancieblue]

I have a Lavazza coffee pod machine & need that first mug full before I get out of bed, my amazing husband makes it for us both. I usually only have one each day & have found that I can no longer tolerate instant coffee, but I did need another one at lunch today as we met up with my husband’s brother & wife & she sort of has that effect on me. I usually need more chocolate as well.

That's what's happened to me. I can no longer drink instant coffee. But I used to put a dessertspoon full of international roast in a mug to make it strong enough. (Very bad habit) Funny I had a sister-in-law that affected me the same way.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I have a Lavazza coffee pod machine & need that first mug full before I get out of bed, my amazing husband makes it for us both. I usually only have one each day & have found that I can no longer tolerate instant coffee, but I did need another one at lunch today as we met up with my husband’s brother & wife & she sort of has that effect on me. I usually need more chocolate as well.

That's what's happened to me. I can no longer drink instant coffee. But I used to put a dessertspoon full of international roast in a mug to make it strong enough. (Very bad habit) Funny I had a sister-in-law that affected me the same way.

Me too, still does. She affects the rest of the family the same way as well.
Try to avoid her as much as possible.
She came to my husband's funeral, sat at the back with a sour look on her face and spoke to none of the family.
She hadn't spoken to my husband for years, don't know why she bothered to come.

 

[Clancieblue]

Me too, still does. She affects the rest of the family the same way as well.
Try to avoid her as much as possible.
She came to my husband's funeral, sat at the back with a sour look on her face and spoke to none of the family.
She hadn't spoken to my husband for years, don't know why she bothered to come.

OMG are we related. same thing here.