Almost 30 per cent of Australians not purchasing takeaway coffee, new research shows as cost of living weighs on budgets

Australians are ditching a once thoughtless purchase as the cost of living forces them to reconsider household budgets.

New Canstar research showed 29 per cent of Australians have given up buying takeaway coffee as the average drink costs $5.90.

The average coffee drinker buys four cups a week, setting them back $23.60.

Canstar’s consumer expert Eden Radford said surging coffee prices have forced households to reconsider this expense.

“With the average takeaway coffee creeping close to six dollars, the daily cup has quickly become a notable line item in the household budget,” Ms Radford said in a statement.

“However, Aussies aren’t giving up their daily caffeine hit, they’re getting smarter about where they get it instead.”

One in five said they have purchased a coffee machine to avoid buying out.

This is crucial for many coffee drinkers as Canstar revealed that 34 per cent of Australians drink one cup a day and 50 per cent drink two to three.

Ms Radford noted rising price pressures were forcing coffee drinkers to be more price conscious.

“Cost of living pressures are having an impact on household coffee habits, as Canstar’s survey shows that nearly three in ten Australians have completely ditched the cafe run to make their coffee at home instead,” she said.

“Whether swapping cafe visits for home brews to save money, or simply adding a home brew option to the daily routine, the takeaway is simple: taking control of your daily brew and shopping around for value can still save you money without giving up your favourite hot drink.”

The latest data comes as inflation remains elevated at 3.8 per cent.

The largest contributors to annual inflation in the year to June were housing, up 6.8 per cent and food and non-alcoholic beverages, up 3.3 per cent.

Canstar’s research also follows leading restaurateur Neil Perry warning that Australians could pay $12 for a coffee in five years.

Perry, whose Sydney restaurant Margaret was crowned the world’s second best steak restaurant in 2025, was asked about the rise in coffee prices at The Australian’s Global Food Forum.

“Get used to $12 (coffees) in five or six years’ time,” Perry said.

“The fact is through wage increases and the way the award works it’s incredibly expensive to have young baristas and people making coffees and waitresses.”

He said that since the pandemic there had been “pretty much a five per cent increase in the basic award every year” which had a knock-on effect for business costs.

Read related topics:Cost of LivingInflation