No price hike in Perak coffee shops expected

IPOH: Another round of price hikes at coffee shops here will only take place if operators have to fork out more for gas, wages and ingredients, it was revealed.

Perak Coffee Shop Keepers’ Association chairman Kong Kin Loong said they too understand the hardship faced by the people and would try to keep the prices of their food and beverages affordable.

“The last price increase of food and beverages in coffee shops was between late last year and early this year. This was because prices of a lot of things, like gas, wages, electricity, water and some food ingredients increased,” he said.

“If the increase was a few sen, then we can still absorb it.

“If the increase is like 10 to 20sen, we have no choice but to increase our prices as well,” he added.

Kong said even with people travelling freely now between states, prices of food and beverages at coffee shops would remain the same for now.

“We will not go crazy on the prices. If we increase the prices too much, our businesses too will be impacted,” he said, adding that a cup of white coffee at coffee shops costs between RM2.50 and RM2.90 while toast bread is RM2.60.Meanwhile, association deputy chairman Ooi Beng Yeaw said no coffee shops in the state were charging for liquor corkage.

He said while he understood the action taken by some coffee shops in Penang, there was no indication of the same in Perak.

“When customers bring their own liquor, they will still need water and services from waiters.

“Workers will also have to clean up after them so the fee is understandable,” he said.

“So far, none of our members here have brought up this matter with us.

“As we are mostly traditional coffee shops, and as the customers are our regulars, it will be hard to impose the charge,” he added.