Rome set to raise the price of coffee

Rome’s reputation as one of the cheapest places in the world to get a cup of coffee could take a hit after a decision to raise prices by between 10 and 20 cents per cup across the city. While it is the home of espresso culture, Rome is also one of the cheapest places in the world to get a cup of hot Java due to strict price controls imposed by the city’s Bar Association (this one’s for baristas, not barristers). The Bar Association has agreed to the price rise due to the rising costs of doing business in the form of an increase in Italy’s value-added tax, rising costs of rent and utilities and modernisation costs such as the customer expectation for free wi-fi. A spokesperson for the Bar Association has said the even after the rise, Rome’s coffee will still be among the cheapest in Europe, and cheaper even than Manila, Guatemala City and Lima.