This week I came across an interesting article where a migration lawyer took to TikTok when she noticed she was charged $8.90 for a soy latte at a hotel bar inside Crown Tower in Barangaroo.

She was charged $1 extra for soy milk, $1 to upgrade to a large cup and 80 cents for a “Sunday service charge”.

“Oh my god I just got charged $8.90 for a cup of coffee,” she said in her viral TikTok video.

Well, do you think the price she paid was fair? The facebook hospitality group that I am a part of did not take kindly to this and below are some of the comments they posted.

Um, coffee bean prices have almost doubled and freight costs too have specialty milk, cups, and beans delivered has doubled, but many of us have absorbed the costs. Should charge that price, but we normally don’t. All I can say it had better be one amazing tasting coffee.
Hi! Lawyer here! Coffees should be that expensive.
You have all been smashed in the pandemic. Inflation is pushing up the prices of everything around you and in your own shops.

I don’t understand how this is a problem…
It’s a $6 coffee…
Plus CC fee 0.10c
+$1 to upgrade to large
+$1 soy milk
+ it’s a Sunday so weekend surcharge %10
& yet Lawyers can charge $400 for a 15 minute phone call 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s a large soy milk on a Sunday!!! Not an average cup. Effen lawyer needs to spend some time in the real world.

My thoughts? I 100% agree with all the above comments especially the one which says that we all have been smashed by the pandemic. All supplier prices have gone up in the recent years so it is imperative that your menu prices reflect this. If you have been afraid of upsetting customers, please don’t hesitate. If you have an excellent product and customer service, then by all means please ensure you are charging a fair price to your customers. As I always say, margins are tight in hospitality and every dollar adds up at the end of the day.