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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think £2 for a babycino is extortionate

246 replies

Prrambulate · 09/01/2024 19:59

The lovely independent coffee shop near me has raised the price of its babycino from £1 (already steep imo) to £2. Babycino in this case = an espresso cup of frothed milk with a dusting of cocoa powder on top.

This place has a selection of toys in a dedicated corner so lots of parents tend to go there to unwind and have somewhere their kids can play for a short while. I sense the business opportunity here but it also seems exploitative to me! Especially since their usual coffees are all at the £3 - £3,50 range.

Working up the courage to complain…

OP posts:
EdinGirl · 09/01/2024 20:01

£1 is reasonable. You need to factor in the labour of staff making it, it isn't just down to ingredients.
Time is money.

But, I also think £2 is way too much.

I wonder if some parents aren't purchasing coffee for themselves but letting their kids play and taking up a table and just buying a Babyccino?

Kazzyhoward · 09/01/2024 20:04

33p of that £2 goes straight to HMRC as VAT, so all they receive is £1.67 which is pretty small given the time it takes to serve you (staff need paying), the costs of cleaning the cup, premises overheads, fees for debit card processing (or banking the cash), etc etc.

HiCandles · 09/01/2024 20:05

Ridiculous price for some milk froth, stop paying it and tell them why.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 09/01/2024 20:08

It’s not exploitative because you can always go somewhere else, or even just not buy a babycino. It’s a bit steep but a lot of places are having to put their prices up because costs are going up. I would rather pay the extra and have the cafes I like survive. No one is getting rich owning an independent coffee shop.

BendingSpoons · 09/01/2024 20:08

It is steep but they need to make ends meet. £2 for some frothed milk is expensive. £2 for a change of scene and somewhere for your child to play doesn't sound too bad.

MrsSucculent · 09/01/2024 20:11

Used to be 50p in my day (daughter is 7).

I’d be giving mine squash in a sippy cup at that price!

Vistada · 09/01/2024 20:13

Yabu for ordering a "babyccino" with a straight face.

Also- pointless to complain, if you don't like the prices, vote with your feet.

BassoContinuo · 09/01/2024 20:13

It’s no more ridiculous than the prices charged for most coffees in coffee shops these days!

You’re paying for the staff, the heating / lighting, crockery, toys in the dedicated corner etc

If you don’t think it’s worth it, stop buying it. If everyone does that then presumably they’ll alter their business strategy - but I suspect enough people will pay it.

Kalevala · 09/01/2024 20:15

Just share the froth from your own if you have a frothy coffee.

Flickersy · 09/01/2024 20:16

Marketing gimmick designed to get money out of people is expensive. Shocking.

Just don't buy it.

timetofetgit · 09/01/2024 20:18

At £3/£3.50 for a coffee I think you're getting a bargain anyway coffees round my way are £4/£5.00!
£2 seems steep, but don't forget, all the coffee shop over heads have gone up, rent/ utility bills/ ingredients/ rates/ possibly bank charges for the machine and on the business account, then there is VAT etc etc etc.
Everything is going up, just hope it doesn't lead to hyperinflation.

PossumintheHouse · 09/01/2024 20:20

I’m guessing they did it because a lot of parents and kids are spending longer than average there - perhaps nursing their drinks - due to the fabulous toy corner, essentially taking up a table. But they were daft to jump from £1 to £2 in one swoop.

notacooldad · 09/01/2024 20:21

You are not just paying for froth and a bit of chocolate dust though.
You are happy for the staff to serve you, who need paying, use the building, which has loads of associated costs, use their toys to entertain your child while you relax for a bit. All told two quid for all that is not so bad, even if you are in there for half an hour. Personally I think it is worth it to have somewhere to sit and relax while baby plays.

Rosiiee · 09/01/2024 20:22

I remember when our local coffee shop in Sydney used to do babyccinos for free back in the day! They even used to put a marshmallow in it! Those were the days!

Original poster
Prrambulate · 09/01/2024 20:22

Kalevala · 09/01/2024 20:15

Just share the froth from your own if you have a frothy coffee.

My sister does that with her mochas. Doesn’t work as well with flat whites! May need to recalibrate my taste.

If you’re only going there for a babycino and staying for an hour, then maybe, but if you’re buying other hot drinks in the same order I don’t see why it should cost as much.

OP posts:
Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 09/01/2024 20:23

Vistada · 09/01/2024 20:13

Yabu for ordering a "babyccino" with a straight face.

Also- pointless to complain, if you don't like the prices, vote with your feet.

This.

Neriah · 09/01/2024 20:23

You can go somewhere cheaper...

Xmasbaby11 · 09/01/2024 20:24

That’s loads and I wouldn’t pay that. It may well end up with parents taking their own drinks and snacks which often happens in coffee shops anyway.

DuploTrain · 09/01/2024 20:25

Yes it’s expensive for the babycino but it’s to cover the cost of mums coming in, buying one coffee and staying for ages because there’s entertainment for the baby. Think of it as a free babycino and a £2 fee to play.

WonderingAboutThus · 09/01/2024 20:26

They reserve place for the babies, deal with the noise, the spills, keep the toys in order, and keep their base drinks for adults low.

Obviously you are not paying for the milk but for the break.

This really doesn't seem unreasonable for them to do.

I am not sure why there should be an accessible price that isn't simply "the market price". It's a private business, not a tax-funded public service you are talking about.

Chilicabbage · 09/01/2024 20:27

It has to cost because househokds weren't the only ones with rising costs. And businesses didn't have price cap for energy....
It is simple as that. They coukd add xp to each coffee to cover them, but proper charging item is also not wrong

DragonFly98 · 09/01/2024 20:27

They are free in my local coffee shop.

Original poster
Prrambulate · 09/01/2024 20:27

I guess so. Costa gives them away for free with hot drinks, and 50p for the chocolate ones. But the setting is the selling point and they know it. And I don’t want to go to a chain if I can help it. I just balk at this minuscule serving and attendant cost!

I go there often and I haven’t really seen parents overstaying tbh. The small kids are amused for 30 mins or so, not hours.

OP posts:
zaffa · 09/01/2024 20:29

Vistada · 09/01/2024 20:13

Yabu for ordering a "babyccino" with a straight face.

Also- pointless to complain, if you don't like the prices, vote with your feet.

My daughter loves it when I ask for a babycino and she's with me - it makes her feel really grown up.
Also every major chain I go into offer these for free even without buying a drink so I'm surprised the dependents are charging so much - It's quite a price difference! And yes I think £2 is a lot for one of them.

Whataretheodds · 09/01/2024 20:29

How much is an espresso? Why shouldn't a babycino be comparable?

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