Plymouth Business Sees Impact of Rising Coffee Costs
Though coffee beans are grown overseas, people throughout the U.S. are seeing it affect the price of their morning pick-me-up. One shop in Plymouth is seeing it, and said it’s expensive to keep up.
Trading Economics reports that the price of coffee reached new 13-year highs this month. Right now, it’s costing $2.61 a pound. Amid rising costs, at The Fox and Pantry in Plymouth, owner Kym Joles strives for an experience.
“I think a lot of people are looking more for that independent coffee shop. Less transactional. Something where you can come in and spend time with people, that was kind of my whole goal,” Joles said.
Joles, originally from South Africa, moved to Minnesota a number of years ago. She said The Fox and Pantry is inspired by European coffee culture.
Customers are buying into that vision. Of the many customers taking in the morning buzz at The Fox and Pantry, a good number of them are regulars.
“Probably one or two times a week. Actually, probably two or three times a week, to be honest,” said Jerrett Santori, who was set up at the bar.
Santori is a black coffee connoisseur. He said it’s different here– in a good way.
“I’m pretty finicky about the coffee that I actually drink, so a very good black cup of coffee, overall,” Santori said.
For Joles, that is no accident. She said she strives to give people an experience, with a drink that matches it. She uses organic, no-carbon-footprint beans, plus other elevated ingredients.
“They know that I really care about really quality ingredients,” Joles said. “For example, in our mocha, we actually get chocolate in from Europe to use– as opposed to a syrup that would cost a quarter of the price.”
A customer enjoys one of the shop’s many specialty drinks.
As coffee costs rise throughout the industry, fair-trade offerings rise especially high. Conditions across the globe are partly to blame, including both climate concerns and shipping costs.
“Climate change is a big one. The disruptions, in the way of patterns, obviously affects every industry, but coffee particularly,” Joles said.
That hits Joles and her business directly. She said Fox and Pantry does its best to take on costs, but sometimes it has to carry over to the customer. Joles said they’ve only raised them once.
“It’s something that’s very vulnerable as a business, to increase prices. But it’s something that’s so necessary if you’re going to grow,” Joles said.
