Lifestyle

The cheapest takeaway cup of coffee in South Africa

Staff Writer

 ·4 Oct 2026

South Africa has seen a surge in coffee shops and chains in recent years, but the often high drink prices leave people wondering which one is the cheapest.

Coffee is the second-most-consumed drink in the world, behind only water, and its popularity is just as strong in South Africa as it is globally.

Globally, an estimated 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day, and in South Africa, over 6 million people enjoy the beverage.

The high demand in the country has been reflected in recent years by the fast growth of several coffee chains.

Brands such as Vida e Caffe have a presence of over 400 stores in the country, despite only being founded 25 years ago.

This would mean that Vida has opened an average of 16 coffee shops per year since it started, more than one every month for 25 years.

Plato Coffee is another major coffee brand in South Africa, which was founded in 2019 and now has over 140 stores in the country.

By opening 140 shops in seven years, Plato has averaged 20 new coffee shops per year, demonstrating the industry’s rapid growth.

To find the brand with the cheapest cup of coffee, BusinessTech analysed several local and international chains operating in South Africa.

The analysis compared the prices of each brand’s americano and cappuccino – two commonly served coffee drinks.

The comparison looked at the smallest size of these drinks which each of the brands offered, meaning they may not necessarily be the same size.

While some brands may offer drinks that are cheaper by volume, the comparison was made based on what a person can buy from each chain.

The prices for each brand were compared based on in-store prices in Gauteng.

The price of the cheapest cup of coffee from each brand

The cheapest coffee brand in the comparison is Xpresso Cafe, costing half as much as Abantu, the second-place brand.

When Xpresso started, it offered every item on its menu for R10 and kept these prices for roughly five years.

The brand was forced to raise its prices in 2021 to R12 and again in 2024 to R14 – its current price for all products.

The founders of Xpresso, Nicolene and Tomer Elhadad, said the brand’s goal is to make coffee which is affordable for everyone.

“Everything in life does not have to be expensive, and yes, we do not make a lot of profit, but in life, giving has always been better than receiving,” they said on the brand’s website.

The second-cheapest brand on the list, Abantu, is also a smaller group, founded in 2020 by Protea cricketer Rassie van der Dussen and his manager, Chris Cardoso.

The chain does not have permanent outlets but rather operates movable coffee shops, similar to shipping containers.

This method lets the coffee shops easily fit into unorthodox areas, and the company said its goal is “to use unwanted or open spaces in a creative way” on its website.

The rapid growth in the coffee sector has prompted some established retailers, such as Woolworths, to enter the market.

Woolworths operates WCafe in numerous stores, offering a coffee shop alongside its other retail offerings.

Shoprite has also eyed an entry into the market through its acquisition of Vida e Caffe earlier this year, calling the industry a “fast-growing market.”

The acquisition is currently subject to regulatory approval from the Competition Commission, with Shoprite expecting it to take effect in its next financial year.