A Malaysian Threads user has sparked an online debate over the price of coffee from local businesses, after complaining that a single latte can cost as much as RM20.
The post, which did not name any particular coffee seller, received more than 14,000 likes and prompted Malaysians to debate whether expensive coffee is justified by portion size, quality and the beans used.
“You want to support local, but a latte alone is already RM20,” the user wrote.
Several commenters said they had encountered similar prices, with one comparing an RM11.20 Spanish latte from a coffee chain with a roadside version priced at RM13.90.
Others said customers should not be made to feel guilty for choosing cheaper options when they find some local coffee prices too high.
For some, the issue was not just the price but also the amount of coffee served. Commenters complained that certain local sellers charged café-level prices while serving drinks in relatively small cups.
One joked that some drinks could be finished in just two or three sips.
Questions were also raised over why coffee sold from car boots or temporary tent stalls could cost as much as drinks from established cafés.
One commenter claimed they had paid around RM18.90 for a latte in the UK after currency conversion, saying the comparison made a RM20 latte in Malaysia harder for them to accept.
However, others defended higher prices by pointing to the cost and quality of specialty coffee beans.
One commenter argued that coffee made using higher-grade specialty beans should not be compared directly with cheaper commercial coffee, while another claimed certain specialty beans alone could cost more than RM5 per cup.
Some also suggested that customers could simply ask baristas what makes a particular drink more expensive before deciding whether it is worth the price.
Another commenter said RM20 could be reasonable if the coffee was made well, particularly if it used specialty-grade beans and delivered a balanced coffee flavour rather than simply being a large cup dominated by milk.
The original post did not reveal the latte’s size, ingredients, beans or preparation method, leaving the question of whether RM20 is too expensive largely down to individual expectations and what is being offered.
The discussion ultimately highlighted the balancing act faced by consumers: supporting local businesses while still expecting prices and quality to match their budgets and expectations.
