Does Albania risk losing « free coffee » as a tradition?

Every morning billions of people around the world start the day with a cup of coffee. But this daily ritual is becoming more and more expensive.

Colombia, Brazil and Vietnam are the three largest coffee producers in the world. However, coffee production is facing serious challenges. High temperatures and unstable rainfall are adversely affecting coffee plants.

According to studies by 2050, half of the soils suitable for coffee cultivation may disappear.

Rust

In addition to atmospheric conditions, farmers are also struggling with diseases such as « La Roya », a type of leaf rust that has destroyed up to 50% of production in some Latin American regions.

« Earlier, a coffee tree produced hundreds of grains. Now we barely get half.

This crisis has also directly affected the world market. Only in 2024 the price of the Arabica variety increased by 80%, one of the largest increases in decades.

From a free coffee, to a luxury coffee?

In Albania coffee is not just a drink – it is a tradition, a social moment and a daily habit. But prices have begun to rise significantly and many themselves ask: Are we losing « free coffee » as part of our culture?

According to Enri Jahaj, president of the Bars and Restaurant Association, Albania has been operating for years with an abnormal coffee market: “We have been a corrupt market in this regard, because we are not producers nor big coffee matters. Most of the coffee used here is imported. Now that the rules are reinforced, the increase in salaries and taxes is bringing a change in the market.

How much has the price of coffee been increased and how expected to rise?

« Within one year the price of coffee has increased by 20%, and is expected to rise by another 20%. In Tirana the average price of a cup of coffee is already 90-130 ALL, while in elite areas reaches up to 150 ALL. According to forecasts in the coming months the minimum price is expected to go to 120 ALL, while the maximum will remain at the same level, » Jahaj explains.

Will coffee return to luxury in Albania? At the moment it still remains a daily pleasure for most Albanians. But with the actual price raising rhythms, it can come a day when a cup of coffee will not be as affordable as it used to be.