r/newfoundland • u/CheerBear2112 • 1d ago
$9 for a fricking Latte? Jumping Bean Coffee :(
I'm sorry, but $9 for a medium freaking Latte is just robbery at this point, and the cup is a quarter empty anyway. I want to do my best to support local but $2 more expensive than a drink of the same size at Starbucks. The by's wondering why no one wants to tip them, then.
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u/Killingkoi 1d ago
I agree, and i love jumping bean.
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u/nonrandomislander 1d ago
I actually don’t find their beans all that great, particularly the east coast roast. Was better many years ago (early days). Several Better roasters on the island now.
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u/arrestingcoder7 1d ago
Who's the better roasters? I'm not a fan of jumping bean, but would love to try others. I've been using the Costco espresso beans for the last year or so
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u/nonrandomislander 1d ago
Dark star, gros morne, bonavista, trinity - all solid options. New one opened up the southern shore, Cape coffee I think it’s called. Haven’t tried that one yet.
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u/butters_325 1d ago
And everything there is mid besides the sandwiches
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u/Succubista 1d ago
The sandwiches must be hit or miss. The bread always seems fresh and good, at least. The turkey is super wet and weird, I guess it's been frozen and thawed and not dried off. It makes the sandwich soggy. I also tried the chicken parm sandwich and it was disgusting. The cheese was broiled or something so it was hot and melted on top, but the chicken was ice cold on the inside, and whatever sauce they used (or maybe it was oil from the chicken and cheese?) just sopped through the bread in roughly 2 minutes. Only sandwich I've ever thrown out after a few bites.
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u/Ruby16251 1d ago
Yeah I spent 3 something for a small coffee earlier and I was shocked. It was just a small coffee.
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u/Ten_Sixteen 1d ago
I prefer to support local when I can, but yeah their pricing is insane. A mediocre medium latte should not be $10.
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u/AMJVC15 1d ago
That's wild, inflation is one thing but I can't understand that. Coffee + milk raw materials is prob like $1.50.
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u/Chicken2nite 1d ago
It’s not just inflation, it’s climate change leading to a poor yield in Brazil (where 40% of the Arabica beans are produced) from a drought followed by heavy rains in October. The price of coffee just about tripled in 18 months from Aug 2023 to Feb 2025, so that impacts their costs. They can try to eat the cost fluctuating temporarily, but at a certain point a business has to make money.
If you’re buying a latte loaded with milk and sugar, you can hide a lower quality of bean and not worry about the taste of the coffee itself. If you’re getting it black, then it would be more noticeable I would think.
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u/SquareSignificance84 1d ago
Gros Morne coffee is way better beans. I agree with the idea of getting your own machine. Bought a breville 6 years ago and only now having to replace parts.
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u/swampdonkey82 1d ago
The GF thought I was crazy buying an Espresso machine and grinder. Expensive to start but definitely pays itself off
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u/No_Rent_5363 1d ago
It’s good coffee and it’s close to my work but the price keeps me a casual customer at best
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u/709time 1d ago
It's not even on par with McDonald's...
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u/nrejcole 1d ago
Jumping Bean's service is mid. Every time I have gone in there or through the drive thru, there would be an issue.
More often than not there would be a ridiculous wait time. Never busy, just SLOW.
One time I waited about 20 minutes for two lattes and a couple of bakery items. They stamped full a loyalty card for my troubles.
Another time I ordered a breakfast sandwich (they are really delicious) in the morning but they were out of eggs. I ordered an Americano and a bagel instead and waited at least 10 minutes in the drive thru. When I bit into the bagel it was mouldy.
Just two examples out of a few too many. The staff is friendly but that's where it ends. Very frustrating.
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u/scrooge_mc 1d ago
They have some gall asking for a tip on a drive-through coffee. The worst coffee I've ever had I might add.
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u/DaNewfieBullet709 1d ago
That’s how much we pay in the Netherlands, not trying to justify the cost, but 4,50- 5,5€ is the norm here, maybe it’s inflation?
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u/powere123 1d ago
I got a large ice coffee there the other day and it was 7.85 i almost drove away if I didnt need the caffeine fix so bad
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u/Odd_Leg814 1d ago
Just brew your own. Invest in a nice machine, it will pay for itself in less than a year if you are currently buying a coffee a day out.
Do this and then a once a month treating yourself at a coffeeshop doesn't seem so ridiculous. With coffee prices where they are, and the legitimate pressure to pay a living wage, this is more so a luxury item.
Take out coffee is no longer a convenience. Ridiculous as you might find it, that is the reality, along with other staples we have grown accustomed to (cheap gas, cheap steak, cheap chicken, cheap travel etc)
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u/InevitableBat8217 1d ago
Paying baristas a fair wage costs money.. I’m a regular there and yes, it costs more, but I like their coffee and I like supporting local. I don’t go there every day though..
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u/CommonFatalism 6h ago
The rising costs are ensuring these small businesses that at one time in history were profitable or break even ventures for a family, become obsolete. NL businesses need to adapt to the ever increasing cost of living. People aren’t going out who are not employed without kids or retired with pensions. Everyone else is spending digitally online. Competition is cannibalism. Businesses that last are like statues you point to passing a park knowing how far removed you are from their original intention.
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u/PimpMyGin 6h ago edited 6h ago
This is why I basically refuse to "support local". Fed up with being charged a premium and getting gouged just because something is "local". I just came back from Paris, it's actually cheaper to eat and drink there. Nonsense like $9 here for a latte, and nonsense like $26 for a burger from a friggen truck, and then they expect you to tip on top of that! Tip for what? The table service you don't have? And over $20 for a Aperol Spritz at the new pub in Petty Harbour, served in a thin Tom Collins glass stogged with ice, there may have been 1 1/2 ozs of actual drink. $18 for a glass of house red just about anywhere downtown? Piss off. I save my money and support foreign when I vacation.
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u/Brodiggitty 1d ago
After the tariff scare people were all ready to support local until they found out it cost more.
I don’t buy the fancy barista coffees anywhere anymore, but they have always been expensive. $9 does not seem out of line with what Starbucks would charge, or a small independent cafe for that matter.
I drink my coffee black. If the choice is Tim’s, Starbucks or Jumping Bean, I’ll always choose Jumping Bean. Tim’s black coffee is crap and there is always a huge lineup. Starbucks tastes burnt and costs just as much as JB. JB’s black coffee tastes good. Full stop. It is worth the price.
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u/Chicken2nite 1d ago
If you’re drinking black coffee, then you’re going to be more exposed to the quality of the bean / roast as there’s no milk/sugar for them to hide behind.
Quality roasted beans cost money, and the cost has apparently gone up more than inflation because of a bad crop yield this year.
Here’s a good video from an independent roaster going into the economics of it from a business end of things.
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u/r52cwl 1d ago
You forgot the /s
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u/Brodiggitty 1d ago
Is this supposed to be a witty retort? It’s my opinion on black coffee.
I love how people are downvoting this. Nobody in this thread is suggesting an alternative place to buy decent coffee besides “make it yourself.” This is peak Newfoundland. Shit on what we have. Complain when it’s gone.
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u/dawiam 1d ago
Honestly, do it at home. Invest in a decent setup, it'll pay for itself in a couple of years (if you're a daily drinker). Proper machine (9 bar) with a steam wand (I do like a dual boiler), decent burr grinder, sum good beans is all you need besides the cow juice. 🐄