The cheapest coffee pods in SA - and how they compare to normal coffee costs
Gram for gram, the coffee you buy in pods is about 250% more expensive than normal ground coffee.
The first official working day of January seems like a good time to talk about coffee. In particular, how much the world’s most convenient in-home caffeine fix is costing you.
The average cost of a cup of Nespresso coffee in South Africa in January 2023, across 12 different brands, is R7.34. If you put the identical coffee into a reusable pod, bought in a 250g bag, you’ll pay about R5 less.
And as we discussed in a recent radio interview, coffee experts will likely say you’re still shortchanging yourself on flavour and quality.
If you make your coffee in different forms - like an Aeropress, pour-over, or bean-to-cup machine - you’ll still pay slightly less than a pod coffee. Although these methods use a bit more coffee, they also make bigger cups, and beans are available in bulk rather than 5g microdoses.
Here are a few key takeaways on the cost of coffee pods in South Africa
Most coffee pods or capsules contain between 5 and 6 grams of coffee.
The most common quantity of pods per pack is 10.
The cheapest pod was from Checkers - at R5.50 per pod.
The most expensive coffee pods were from Nespresso. Their Amaha Awe Uganda pods cost R12 each.
On average, coffee pods are 109% more expensive than identical coffee available as grounds or beans in 250g bags.
That means coffee companies charge you double to four times more for the convenience.
Here’s how much you’re paying per cup of pod or capsule coffee in South Africa:
Checkers and Pick n Pay sell South Africa’s cheapest coffee pods. Most pods will result in a coffee that costs around R8.50 a cup.
And on the upper end, you can expect to pay between R10.50 and R12 per pod, with Truth, Illy, Starbucks, and a special Nespresso blend topping the charts.