While many Syrian families struggle to start their day without its refreshing aroma, coffee beans face a bitter challenge that strikes the hearts of their addicts, as the rising prices become a worrying phenomenon that is difficult to afford.
"Doubling the price to 20,000 coffees," that's what "Dama Platform" observed while strolling through a store in Sheikh Saad. Citizens now order coffee based on the money they have, as the high prices have become a major obstacle for those who aspire to buy a "wakya" (a small cup of coffee) or even less.
The prices of coffee beans vary according to their types. Brazilian green coffee recorded 80,000 Syrian pounds per kilogram, while roasted Brazilian coffee exceeded 120,000 pounds. On the other hand, Indian green coffee was priced at 75,000 pounds per kilogram, and the roasted variety at 15,000 pounds. If someone wanted to change the flavor, the price of mixed coffee with cardamom ranged from 275,000 to 350,000 pounds per kilogram.
According to Omar Hamoud, the head of the Coffee Association, coffee prices start from 100,000 pounds per kilogram and can exceed 140,000 pounds in some stores. He confirms that there is a variation in prices between different regions. In popular markets, the price is lower, while in other places, the price of a kilogram of coffee can be twice as much, and sometimes it depends on the customer's request, such as adding cardamom and musk.
In this regard, the Coffee Association is currently considering a plan to issue a new and unified tariff for coffee. This means that the price will be the same in all stores and regions. However, the association emphasizes that this plan requires cooperation with the "Consumer Protection" agency, which is responsible for issuing price permits for any commodity.
Regarding the reasons for the rise in coffee prices, as stated in previous statements, the increase is due to the fact that coffee is an imported commodity in small quantities. It is grown in areas characterized by frost and cold, such as India and Brazil, and its importation is done in small quantities.
Transportation costs play a significant role in this increase, especially maritime transport, in addition to the high prices of transportation fuel. Then there are the costs of coffee grinding factories, including fuel, labor wages, and maintenance of equipment and machinery. Replacing or maintaining machine parts has become very expensive.
Furthermore, most of the shops and warehouses that sell coffee are not owned by the shop owners themselves. Therefore, the rent for these shops is high and expensive. Consequently, every seller or trader is forced to increase the price of coffee to cover their costs and expenses.
