Starbucks Price Increase 2013: Some Drinks Affected

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Starbucks is raising prices on many of their drinks this week in a change that will affect each city differently.

The price increase was announced on Tuesday, marking the first substantial price hike at the Seattle-based chain in nearly two years.

Fortunately, the price of drinks will only increase by an average of one percent and will not affect everything on the menu at Starbucks, according to Business Week.

In New York, a tall drip coffee will still sell for $1.85. However, Americanos and lattes will be 10 cents more.

The price of larger venti and grande-sized brewed coffees will not change, nor will the price of Strabucks' Frappucinos, reports CNN.

Alas, less than a third of beverages at the coffee shop will be affected by the price increase, according to Starbucks spokeswoman Lisa Passe.

Meanwhile, Starbucks offers customers incentives to bring in their own cup and save 10 cents on beverages.

The company boasts the highest quality coffee and has coffeehouses in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the U.S. alone. Along with their drip brew coffee and espresso drinks, Starbucks also offers salads, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as many other items.

In recent years, the coffee house has offered a variety of limited-edition seasonal coffee flavors, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Eggnog Latte.

Starbucks also introduced an expensive kind of coffee, called Costa Rica Finca Palmilera, last November.

A grande-sized cup of the chain's "reserve" line will cost around $7, making it the most expensive black coffee ever offered in Starbucks' history.

Today, a half-pound bag of Starbucks' Finca Palmilera beans is available for $40. Cups of this coffee are being sold in 48 Starbucks locations throughout Washington State and Oregon.

"The price is based on rarity, demand, and green coffee prices," explained a spokesperson for Starbucks at the time, according to Yahoo! Shine. "This coffee is not widely available, so, like an opportunity to try a wine where there is limited production, demand is high."

Finca Palmilera coffee comes from the few farms that produce red-berry-colored beans known as Geisha. The rare varietal of coffee beans is sought-after due to their mild and fruity aroma.

"We have loyal Reserve customers who are interested in any opportunity to try something as rare and exquisite as the Geisha varietal," the Starbucks spokesperson added, reported Shine.