The price of an espresso at an Italian bar has risen by almost a quarter in five years, with the average cup now costing €1.29, according to a new study by the Centre for Training and Research on Consumption (CRC) in collaboration with Assoutenti.
The latest figures show that the familiar Italian coffee ritual is becoming steadily more expensive, with prices continuing to rise during 2026.
Based on official transport ministry data collected across Italian provinces, the average price of an espresso has increased by 25 cents since 2021, representing a 24.2% rise. The national average, however, hides considerable differences from one part of Italy to another.
Where is coffee most expensive?
Bolzano remains the most expensive city in Italy for an espresso, with the average cup now costing €1.51.
At the other end of the scale is Messina, where an espresso costs an average of €1.06.
That means someone drinking a daily espresso at the bar would spend around €550 a year in Bolzano, compared with about €387 in Messina – a difference of more than €160.
The regional variations reflect differences in operating costs as well as local pricing practices. Earlier research has consistently found northern cities among the most expensive places for coffee, while prices tend to be lower in southern Italy.
Why is the price going up?
The cost of the coffee beans is only one part of the equation. Furio Truzzi, president of the CRC’s scientific committee, pointed to rising energy and operating costs faced by bars and cafés. These additional expenses are ultimately reflected in what customers pay for their espresso.
The price of coffee itself has also been under pressure. International coffee markets have experienced significant volatility in recent years, with both Arabica and Robusta prices substantially higher than they were at the start of the decade. Earlier Assoutenti research identified the rising cost of raw coffee and energy among the main factors behind the increase in Italian espresso prices.
And there could be further pressure on supplies.
Earthquake disrupts Colombian coffee exports
A devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has caused serious disruption to the country’s coffee supply chain, adding another potential complication for the international coffee market.
The earthquake struck western Colombia on 10 August, damaging roads and other infrastructure and disrupting transport through the Pacific port of Buenaventura. Coffee exports have been rerouted through ports on Colombia’s Caribbean coast while damage is assessed.
Colombia is one of the world’s major coffee producers and a leading source of Arabica beans. The disruption comes at a time when global coffee supplies are already facing pressure from weather-related risks.
It is too early to say how much the earthquake will ultimately affect the price paid for coffee in Italian bars, but further disruption to Colombian exports could add to costs further along the supply chain.
For Italian coffee drinkers, the days when an espresso routinely cost less than €1 are increasingly becoming a memory. The €1.29 average may still seem modest compared with the price of coffee in many other European countries, but the trend is clear: Italy’s famously inexpensive espresso is no longer quite as inexpensive as it once was.
