Why Are Lattes So Expensive?

Last updated on July 14th, 2022 at 09:48 pm

There are some mornings where you just need an extra boost of caffeine and your regular morning cup of coffee won’t cut it. You need something stronger, much stronger. 

While a normal latte is actually not as strong as a normal cup of coffee you can easily get an extra shot of espresso doubling the amount of caffeine. You not only get caffeine from the espresso but you can also get a sugar high from all the milk, sugar, and syrup that’s in your latte. 

Even though you may want this extra boost of energy in the mornings, is it worth the price? Lattes are rather expensive for what seems to be just a few ingredients. 

It doesn’t take many more ingredients than coffee to make, but somehow it is much higher in price. 

Why are lattes so expensive? 

When you order a latte from a coffee shop, you are paying for more than just your latte. Lattes are expensive because you are paying for all of the ingredients: milk, espresso, sugar, and flavored syrups along with the time to make it and the convenience. 

While that may not seem like much, there is still more that you are paying for. You are also paying for the cup that it comes in. Again, not too steep of a price, but there is still more. 

You are also helping provide pay for the barista that made your drink. You are also helping pay for the store itself to ensure that your favorite coffee shop can still be there next month to provide your latte. 

It all boils down to this, your latte is expensive so the barista behind the counter can make a fair wage, so the coffee shop can remain in business next month, and for all the ingredients and supplies needed to make your delicious latte. 

Is It Better To Make Your Own Latte At Home? 

Stopping at your local coffee shop to get a drink every morning can slowly start to add up in price. If you’re spending $5 a day on a latte, you are essentially spending $100 a month on a morning coffee, if not more. 

Is it better to just make your own latte at home to save some cash? 

Making your own latte at home will save you tons of money but it is also far less convenient. Ultimately only you can decide if the convenience is worth the cost. 

The answer to this question can be answered with more questions. 

• Are you a morning person? If the answer is no, it probably isn’t best to make your own latte in the morning before work. You will just stress yourself out by having to wake up earlier and make your own drink. It’s better to just remain stress-free and order your latte at the coffee shop.

• Do you enjoy making coffee? If you don’t mind making your own coffee and experimenting with different drink combinations, then sure, make your coffee at home. If you prefer to leave the coffee mixing to the baristas, then a coffee shop is the way to go. 

If you choose to make your latte at home, you will end up saving quite a bit of money throughout the year. However, if you enjoy the ease of having the barista make your latte for you, then try purchasing from a local coffee shop to help support a small business. 

Do Lattes Make You Gain Weight?

While people may not like to admit it, their weight is constantly on their minds. When you get dressed in the morning, you don’t want to just look good, you want to feel good too. 

If a shirt feels a little snug or hugs your body a little too close, you change into something that looks and feels better. 

People are constantly searching for different ways to lose weight; it can be a new exercise routine to help shed a few pounds, a new walking lifestyle to help you to lose weight, a new diet that can fit their lifestyle, and so on. 

Many of these diets require that you either don’t drink coffee or just skip any of the extra stuff and only drink black coffee. Not many people would consider that a feasible lifestyle change. 

If you are used to drinking a latte every morning to feel awake, it will be very difficult to change your lifestyle and not drink a latte but just a black coffee every morning. If you continue to drink your lattes, will they make you gain weight? 

Lattes are one of the most popular drinks in US coffee shops. Unfortunately, drinking lattes can slow down your weight loss progress. 

Since lattes are made primarily with whole milk, you are consuming a lot of fat. A large morning latte fills about one-third of the daily recommended fat intake. If you are drinking a large latte before breakfast, this means you’ve already drunk a good portion of your daily fat before eating any food.   

Additionally, all the sugar that is in your morning latte may be slowing down your weight loss process as well. Not only is your latte full of fat and sugar, but also calories as well. 

If you do intend to start a diet, you need to figure out if you would rather drink your calories or eat them. If you drink a 12 oz latte every weekday morning for a year, you are consuming over 35,000 calories a year! 

If you ditch your morning routine of drinking lattes, you can shed about 10 lbs a year. 

Is It Okay To Drink A Latte Every Day? 

Most people enjoy sticking to a schedule. Everyone has some sort of habit they do every day. 

Do you wake up and eat breakfast first thing every morning? Are you the type of person who brushes their teeth first because you can’t stand that feeling in your mouth? 

Do you eat lunch around the same time every day? Do you always take a certain route on your way home after work/school? 

Maybe your habit is to stop at a coffee shop and grab a drink every morning before work? 

If you have the habit of drinking a latte every morning, is that bad for your health? Coffee has been proven to aid in digestion and help keep things moving. 

Since a latte is a few shots stronger than coffee, does that mean your digestive system gets extra help? 

Drinking a latte doesn’t really have any health benefits. Since there is a lot of milk and sugar in the latte, it may not be the best for your health especially when you drink one every day. 

While you still will receive some of the digestive aid you receive in coffee, it may be counter-affected by all the fat and sugar in your latte as well. 

However, if drinking a latte every morning helps keep you happy and is an added benefit to your emotional health, then go for it. Drink what makes you happy.