Why cafés pay half what you pay
Volume, terms, and the retail margin.
The gap
A café buying five kilos a month pays roughly half the retail price per kilo, sometimes less. The roaster still makes money because there is no shelf and no card fee.
This is normal in every coffee city, and it is why a bag in a café costs more than the same bag from the roastery.
Wholesale is a relationship. Retail is a conversation.
What it means for you
If you drink a bag a week, ask a roastery about a home subscription or a five-kilo share with friends. The discount is real.
If you drink a bag a month, pay retail and treat it as a ticket to ask questions.
Disclosure: this article contains no affiliate links. Prices and dates checked in October 2026. Our methodology.