Inflationary pressure pushes Greeks to cut back on coffee

ATHENS — Meeting over a cup of coffee has long been an integral part of Greek culture. However, the inflationary pressure of the past year has forced 54 percent of coffee lovers to cut back on their caffeine habit, a recent survey conducted for the Hellenic Coffee Association has found.

Nevertheless, coffee consumption remains high, Ioannis Benopoulos, president of the Hellenic Coffee Association, said in Athens this week.

On average, Greeks consume 4 kilograms of coffee — traditional Greek coffee, instant coffee or espresso — per capita annually, Benopoulos said.

Greeks are among the world's 20 biggest coffee drinkers, according to the International Coffee Organization.

"Coffee consumption in Greece today is one of the most deeply ingrained habits… At least 8 out of 10 of those surveyed said that they drink coffee daily," Benopoulos said.

Seven out of 10 coffee lovers drink more than two cups per day and would not replace coffee with any other drink, according to a survey carried out by Kapa Research.

In Greece, people drink coffee in practically all social settings. It is an excuse for getting together with relatives, co-workers or friends.

"Going out for coffee, that we are quite used to doing in our country. This special habit is inextricably linked to our culture. It is no coincidence that 4 out of 10 respondents said that cutting back on coffee consumption would equal limiting social interactions," Benopoulos said.

However, faced with soaring inflation amid the energy crisis and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, many Greeks started ditching the idea of sitting in coffee shops or restaurants over a cup of coffee, the survey showed. Some respondents opted for the more economical solution of takeout or making coffee at home.

The year-on-year inflation rate in the country hit a 30-year record high of about 12 percent last June, the Hellenic Statistical Authority, or ELSTAT, said. The rate was 9.3 percent for the whole year, according to the latest estimates from the Bank of Greece.

"The increase in raw material and energy prices has also affected the price of coffee sold in coffee shops," coffee shop owner Giorgos Karamanidis said.

Data for August showed that the price of coffee in the European Union was on average 16.9 percent higher than in August 2021, according to the EU's statistical office Eurostat.

Last year, Greek shop owners saw the price of sugar double within a year. In June, electricity prices were 70.4 percent higher than in the same month of 2021, ELSTAT said.

Although inflation slowed to 4.6 percent in March compared to March 2022 as a result of lower energy prices, many coffee drinkers still think twice before indulging in meeting a friend at a cafe.

Xinhua