Graph 2. Cost of a double Cappuccino at Specialty Coffe Shops

Cup of cappuccino: what do we pay for?

Coffee is a popular drink made from roasted seeds of the coffee fruit and is one of the most important commodities in the World. Coffee is a significant export product for the economy of many countries, including Brazil, Vietnam and Colombia. However, it is well known that the commodity cost usually represent the smallest part of the final price, even when it’s the most important part of the product itself. According to reporter Sherri Day, coffee growers only get $0.035 from a cappuccino cup, an Italian beverage prepared with coffee and milk. On the other hand, shop rent, marketing, and general administration make up $1.29 of its price, which is 37 times bigger than the cost with coffee growers. The expenses with coffee growers represent about 0.9%. In contrast, costs with rent and marketing are 34% and are only smaller than expenses with employees that represent 36% of the cappuccino price (“New York Times” 29 Nov. 2003: B1).