this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
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Coffee

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Pretty much the title. I’ve noticed lately that more independent and non-grocery roasters will have 12 ounce bags instead of one pound.

Is there a special reason for this beyond, I assume, bringing the price of more gourmet-ish coffee to a price point comfortable for the average consumer?

Also, shout out to King Bean in South Carolina, I love their Capers Blend.

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 year ago (2 children)

A true pound of green yields roughly 12 ounces of roasted coffee. 12oz bags have been standard in speciality shops for a long time honestly.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Thanks! That answers my question.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I always thought it was shrinkflation.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Little of column A, a little of column B.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

MANY products have seen slow shrinkage over the last decade. 16>13 oz. chip bags, 13 cookies instead 16 .... That candy bar that used to be 3" across is now 2.5 " across? Result: 2/3 of the surface area = 50% more profit. The price stays the same and they hope you don't notice how much less you're getting. Another side of this is the drop in the quality of ingredients.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Shrinkflation, as they call it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Don’t forget sports drinks. Used to be I could buy a gatorade then have a 1 liter bottle I could use to track my water intake. Now it’s 28 ounces and I need a nalgene bottle to track what I drink.

(I have no sense of thirst so being able to count liters is very handy)

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (2 children)

My local roaster weighs out a pound for ya before grinding.

I think it's shrinkflation if you're getting 12oz vs a pound for the same price as before

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Absolutely, Starbux has been lessening the ounces and raising the prices for several years.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Child labor costs are rising in West Africa so Starbucks needs to consider their shareholders. I say this as a coffee drinking hypocrite. Even ethically certified coffee is constantly outed. You can buy from Hawaii but then there's the issue they destroy the local environment to grow it. I just trust my current sources as being true fair trade and they are 2-3x the price of the stores.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

The only time I used to buy specialty coffee (years ago) was from a single location and it was always Jamaican Blue Mountain. At that time they sell it like deli items and weigh it on a scale to get you whatever amount you wanted.

I don’t think what I’m seeing is shrinkflation as it’s just as I’ve gotten back into drinking specialty coffee.

Honestly the 1 lb. green = 12 oz. roasted makes sense for what I’m seeing. The grocery brands or chains like Starbucks, that I’d believe is shrinkflation for short.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

I have a local roaster who sells roast-to-order beans by the pound. He estimates how much green coffee it’ll take to produce a pound after roasting. Sometimes you get more than a pound, which is a nice bonus.

I will say, at the rate I go through coffee I actually prefer 12 ounces. It makes it easier for me to keep the coffee fresh. I usually order multiple bags of beans and vac seal freeze all but one bag. That local roaster’s coffee is so good though, so I may order from him again soon!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Most places switched to 12oz a while back. I always figured it was shrinkflation. Place I buy from offers 12oz and 5lbs. My local Peet’s will sell any quantity and bag to order.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Because these companies are full of spineless people who just do what they’re told.