By Yoon Sat - Nov 30, 2024
Domestic 3-in-1 readymade coffee mix products are becoming scarce in the market, and the price of a small packet has risen to as high as 800 MMK, leaving many low-income workers unable to afford their daily readymade coffee.
The price of a single cup of "plain" coffee brewed from a 3-in-1 coffee mix ranges from at least 800 MMK to 1,500 MMK when bought at roadside tea shops.
It has long been a common practice for workers to start their day with a quick coffee mix before heading to work and to drink another coffee after their lunch break to refresh themselves in industrial zones. However, due to the steep rise in the price of these accessible coffee products, some workers have had to stop drinking coffee altogether.
“The supply has been running short for a while now. I was shocked when a small shop charged me 1,500 MMK for a plain cup of coffee. I chose that shop because the prices at regular shops are even higher. They said it was because it was a ‘premium 3-in-1 coffee.’ Other options were 1,200 MMK. I just can’t afford it anymore," said a worker from a factory near Danyingone Intersection.
Across markets in Yangon Region, a packet of 3-in-1 coffee is reportedly being sold for as high as 22,000 MMK per bag, while smaller bundles are sold for 9,000 MMK. A single small packet costs between 700 MMK to 1,000 MMK depending on the brand and location.
Moreover, domestically produced 3-in-1 coffee mixes, which were previously widely available, are now often out of stock.
“3-in-1 coffee is now very rare and becomes one of the most expensive options. The cheapest options cost around 700 MMK per packet. Although it’s produced locally, the packaging materials are imported. I heard the current problem is due to shortages in packaging materials," said an employee at a wholesale shop in South Dagon Township.
For basic laborers earning a daily wage of 4,800 MMK and an allowance of 2,000 MMK, the rising price of coffee has pushed even plain tea served at tea shops further out of reach. Workers who previously relied on 3-in-1 coffee for a quick energy boost are finding the increased prices, ranging from 800 MMK to 1,000 MMK per packet, beyond their means, forcing many to give up their daily coffee habit.
“It feels like winning the lottery when I find the coffee packets I usually drink at the grocery center. But the price has gone way up. Coffee drinkers will understand this feeling. When work gets overwhelming, and you’re physically and mentally exhausted, the refreshment a cup of coffee provides is irreplaceable. The coffee that basic class people are currently drinking is already the cheapest available, but now even that has become unaffordable. This current situation is truly an unbearable hardship," said a female coffee lover.
Since the military takeover, the country has been facing unprecedented inflation, with commodity prices reaching record highs. Coupled with the fact that the minimum wage of 4,800 MMK per day has not been adjusted in six years, the economic strain on ordinary people has reached an unprecedented level.
