Kurgan residents brew more coffee at home as prices rise

In Kurgan, as across the country, coffee has become noticeably more expensive in recent years. The price increase for both types of coffee has significantly exceeded the overall inflation rate. According to the Central Bank of Russia, the official annual inflation in the region at the end of December 2025 was 6.49%. And coffee, according to official statistics, has become more expensive by more than a quarter. We looked at coffee prices in chain stores, talked to Kurgan residents, and also asked cafe owners how they are surviving amid rising prices and taxes.

According to Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service), in the Trans-Urals region in December 2025, the price of natural instant coffee increased by 29.14% compared to December 2024. A kilogram of instant drink at the end of last year cost an average of 3,420.2 rubles (about $35 at current rates), while in December 2024 the average price was 2,641.95 rubles (about $27 at current rates). Bean coffee became more expensive by 28.5% over the year. In December 2025, it cost 2,336 rubles per kilogram (about $24 at current rates). And a year earlier, it was 1,794.8 rubles (about $18 at current rates).

— We raised coffee prices last year due to increases in bean and milk prices. About 10 percent. And now we’ve also raised them by 5–10 percent. This is already related to taxes, — Ekaterina Vasilyeva, co-owner of the coffee shop «Friends of Friends», told 45.RU, adding that they are cutting costs as much as possible to avoid significantly raising prices.

Ekaterina explains that coffee bean prices started actively rising a couple of years ago, when there was a crop failure in Brazil. Besides that, suppliers« prices increased due to a rise in the VAT rate.

— Production costs are rising very sharply. Well, for now we’ve decided not to economize on quality, as we never have. After all, we’re not about something sweet with milk, but about a gastronomic product — specialty coffee. So far, our regular guests still come. There are, of course, seasonal dips, but that’s like everyone else.

Ekaterina doesn’t make predictions for the future, but says that perhaps people will switch to home coffee.

— Overall, I think if it becomes too expensive for someone to drink coffee in a cafe every day, they will buy beans and brew coffee at home.

Natalya Aksyonova, head of the ZËRNA coffee chain, says that the peak of coffee price increases was in 2024.

— Suppliers then announced that prices would rise by 20% due to a bean shortage. We raised prices gradually so that guests wouldn’t notice it as much. There was also an increase in 2025. Since 2024, bean coffee has increased in price by about 50% on average, maybe even more. We looked for ways to reduce production costs without lowering quality. We examined suppliers of other products that go into the drinks.

It’s not possible to fully reduce costs in the cafe, other factors also influence. For example, the price of dairy products also increased significantly in 2025.

— Over the past year, on average, we had to raise the price by 15–20 rubles. We didn’t earn extra from this, but we managed to maintain the quality we offer guests. We even changed suppliers, one that allows us to order bean coffee at an acceptable price. Thanks to the order volume for our chain, we can compensate for the cost per cup.

Natalya doesn’t hide that price increases will continue in 2026.

— An increase of 15–20% is inevitable in any case. This is due to the new tax system and price increases from suppliers. This is the minimum. Our colleagues from Moscow and St. Petersburg have already had to raise prices by about 40 percent per cup of coffee.

But for now, the interlocutor says, the overall atmosphere is positive, there is no mass outflow of guests, and some visitors have started making more coffee at home, including because there is more information on how to make good coffee. Natalya hopes that 2026 will not hit the coffee business too hard, and that price increases will be smoothed over with service and new menu items.

Kurgan resident Vadim M. told a 45.RU correspondent that lately he has been going to cafes less often, grinding beans at home and using a coffee maker.

— Yes, prices have gone up a bit, I mostly drink coffee at home, especially in winter there’s no time to go to cafes. The price has increased, from my casual observations, by 10–15%, depending on whether cafes use cheap mass-market coffee or specialty series coffee.

Coffee lover Darya says that the price increase is felt not only for coffee but for everything.

— When everything around gets more expensive, you start thinking about priorities. Coffee hasn’t disappeared from my life, but I take coffee to-go less often now. It’s better to take one good pack of coffee, drink it at home and bring it with me. And in general, it’s healthier for the body to consume less caffeine, so there are even pluses in this, — Darya remains optimistic.

Anastasia drinks coffee mainly not at home, but in a cafe. She hasn’t noticed any significant price increase.

— In the places where I get coffee, I haven’t noticed that the price tag has gone up. The only thing is they changed the loyalty program and now fewer bonuses accumulate. But in new cafes that are opening here, the prices are exorbitant. Once I went into one in the city center, and a regular cappuccino without extras was more expensive and not tasty.

One resident said that, despite the price increase, she won’t give up coffee.

— Of course, I’ve noticed that since last year coffee has been getting more expensive. I’m definitely not planning to give it up. I started ordering it on marketplaces, it turns out cheaper than in the store, — shares the city resident.

How much does coffee cost in Kurgan stores? In the online catalog of the Lenta supermarket, the most expensive was bean coffee. If buying without the store’s discount card, the price for a kilogram package ranges from 2,105 to 3,669 rubles (about $22 to $38 at current rates). With the card, the price does not exceed 2,005 rubles (about $21 at current rates). One of the inexpensive kilogram packages of bean coffee costs 1,299 rubles (about $13 at current rates) with a customer card. There are cheaper beans in packages with less weight.

Instant coffee is mainly sold in packages and jars of smaller volume. For half a kilo of instant coffee with a discount card, you’ll have to pay about one and a half thousand rubles (about $15 at current rates). A 190-gram jar will cost around 600 rubles (about $6 at current rates) depending on the manufacturer.

In the online catalog of the local supermarket chain Metropolis, coffee is also represented by different types. A kilogram of bean coffee can be bought for 1,700–2,300 rubles (about $18 to $24 at current rates) depending on the manufacturer and brand. There are packages of smaller volume.

Instant coffee also varies in price depending on the manufacturer and volume. There are options to buy instant drink on sale for just 217 rubles (about $2 at current rates) for a 75-gram package.

Do you drink coffee at home or in cafes? Write in the comments.