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Some S'pore coffee shops to increase price of some beverages by 10 to 30 cents due to rising costs

It is necessary to adjust prices in order to keep the business going, a drinks stall manager said.

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April 05, 2026, 07:31 PM

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An increasing number of coffee shops in Singapore have been adjusting the prices of their food and drinks by 10 to 30 cents as the costs of raw materials, shipping, electricity, manpower, and more continue to rise.

Sheng Yuan Coffee Shop in MacPherson previously put up a notice informing customers that from Apr. 1, all drinks and some food items sold by its stalls will be priced at 10 to 20 cents higher, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Recently, several more establishments have said they will be taking similar action.

Most of the price changes will affect drinks such as coffee and tea.

Adjustments are necessary

The owner of FM Coffee Shop in Bedok told Shin Min that he will be raising the prices of some drinks there by at least 10 cents a cup from May 1.

He will do the same in April at three other coffee shops he owns, located in migrant worker dormitories.

Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, he did not increase prices at these three coffee shops, but the current spikes in gas and electricity have forced his hand.

"We really cannot bear it anymore," he said. "We have to make adjustments."

The manager of a drinks stall at Blk 116 Toa Payoh Lorong 2, which has already increased prices of their drinks in April by 10 cents a cup, felt similarly.

They emphasised that it is necessary to adjust prices in order to keep the business going, and sought the understanding of the customers.

In late March, Hong Poh Hin, chairman of the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association, said that coffee shop operators have faced a 20 per cent increase in various costs since the start of 2026, and electricity bills are expected to keep rising.

Varies by outlet

Kim San Leng, which operates over 30 coffee shops across the country, will adjust prices at their outlets in phases from Apr. 15, and depending on their location.

Its director told Shin Min that as the different outlets will set different prices based on their rent, customer traffic, and competition in the area.

Those in better locations may get higher price hikes.

Across all the outlets, the hikes will start from 20 cents, but not hit 40 cents.

The recent volatility of global supply chains have added pressure on food operators, exacerbated by competition in the market, the director shared.

However, he emphasised that the adjustments will vary by individual outlet, and will not be applied across the board.

Some operators are still monitoring the situation

There are also coffee shop operators that have no plans to increase prices, but have been closely observing the market.

The manager of Chang Cheng Holdings said that the 33 drinks stalls at the coffee shops it owns have not made price adjustments for the moment.

"It's not easy for customers either, so we hope to maintain prices as much as possible," he said.

At the same time, though, he admitted that he will not rule out raising prices in the future if costs continue to go up.

As for the customers, some have expressed understanding for the challenges the operators and hawkers face.

One told Shin Min he was not concerned, as he could choose to stop drinking coffee and tea, while another said he has already done so, switching to making coffee and tea himself at home instead to save money.

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Top images from Serene Tan/Google Maps and Gary Ng/Google Maps

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