Brewing Change: Why Your Tim Hortons Coffee Costs More

 

For the first time in three years, Tim Hortons is raising the price of its coffee. The increase is modest—about three cents per cup, or roughly 1.5 per cent—but it comes at a time when Canadians are already feeling the pinch of higher grocery bills and rising food costs.

The chain points to global pressures as the main culprit. Coffee bean prices have more than doubled in recent years, driven by poor weather in major producing countries like Brazil and Colombia, as well as tariffs that have disrupted international trade. While grocery store coffee prices have surged nearly 28 per cent in the past year, Tim Hortons insists its adjustment is “more than reasonable” and well below overall inflation.

Still, for many Canadians, the daily double-double is more than just a beverage—it’s a ritual. Even a few extra cents may be noticed, especially by regulars who stop in multiple times a day. Economists suggest that while most people won’t give up their caffeine fix, some may shift habits, perhaps brewing more at home or cutting back on extra visits.

Tim Hortons says its long-term goal remains the same: to balance affordability with the realities of a volatile global coffee market. For now, Canadians will have to swallow a little “Timflation” along with their morning brew.