Local coffee shops and students react to Tim Horton’s price increase

Tim Hortons has announced a nationwide coffee price increase due to rising coffee bean costs and inflation. (Fernanda Sánchez/AQ)

For the first time in nearly three years, the beloved Canadian coffee chain Tim Horton’s has announced a nationwide price increase of roughly 1.5 per cent, or 3 cents per cup. 

The corporation cited inflation, more specifically the increase in pricing for coffee beans, as the reason in a statement to CTV News. MarketWatch.com has reported a pound of coffee beans increasing from $2.21 per pound to $5.45.

With a Tim Horton’s nestled into St. Thomas University’s student hub of Sir James Dunn Hall, grabbing a coffee and some Timbits in between classes has become a staple of student life at STU.

Landen Cormier, a frequent customer of Tim Hortons, did not notice the price increase in drinks, but noticed that food had become more expensive. 

“I can’t say that I intend on visiting any less. I think it’s a small enough margin that I can still be a customer,” he said.

While the price increase in food was not specifically reported by Tim Horton’s, the price of food was reported by the University of Calgary to have increased 10.4 per cent year-over-year in Canada as of October 2024.

Jeremy MacFarlane, the owner of local Fredericton cafes Freddy Bean Roasters and The Tipsy Muse, has had his own troubles with inflation.

“It’s tough; like any small business, inflation affects what we do,” said MacFarlane. “We try to absorb the price as long as we can, but eventually, you just have to give in.”

MacFarlane’s businesses have not raised their prices in the past six months, with efforts being made to save money and cut costs as much as possible before considering it. He has reported sourcing cheaper options for food items and working extra hours to save money on staff labour.

“But we're taking a real close look at our costs right now and it might be coming,” he warned.

When asked about his experiences as a student navigating inflation, Cormier said, “It's definitely tricky, and I think for the most part, I'm okay, but I've definitely complained a lot … I haven’t skipped too many meals because of it.”

What MacFarlane wants consumers to know the most is that his businesses don’t want to increase their prices.

“When we are forced to make a price increase, we're not looking to make more money … We're just trying to keep our lights on.”