Their coffee price has risen by roughly 1.5 per cent, marking its first price adjustment since 2022
Tim Hortons has increased its coffee prices for the first time in nearly three years. With this, students at Wilfrid Laurier University are already feeling the effects of the rising prices.
The company confirmed earlier this month that the average cost of a cup has risen by roughly 1.5 per cent, or roughly three cents, making its first price adjustment since 2022. According to a report by City News journalist Joseph Ryan, Tim Hortons stated that the change was prompted by inflation and the rising cost of coffee beans, saying the increase is “more than reasonable.”
“This is the first time in about three years that we’ve adjusted the price of coffee,” the company explained in the City News article.
Still, for many Laurier students who rely on a caffeine boost to power through early lectures or late-night study sessions, those few extra cents feel like yet another sign of inflation creeping into daily life.
“I go to the Tims in the Science Building every single morning before class. It’s basically part of my routine,” said a third-year political science student at Laurier. “It might not seem like a big deal, but when you’re grabbing coffee five days a week, it adds up. We’re already paying more for rent and groceries, now even coffee isn’t safe.”
The increase comes amid a broader rise in coffee prices across Canada. Statistics Canada reported that coffee prices in grocery stores surged by 27.9 per cent in August 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Much of Canada’s coffee supply comes from countries like Colombia, Brazil, Honduras, and Mexico. On top of that, U.S. tariffs and Canada’s own trade countermeasures have impacted coffee importers, contributing to the higher costs passed on to consumers.
“It’s just frustrating,” Said a third-year communications student at Wilfrid Laurier University. “We’re all used to seeing prices go up for big things like rent and groceries, but now even small comforts like coffee are costing more.”
For several Laurier students, the Tim Hortons in the Science Building is not only a place for them to grab caffeine. It’s also a social hub and a study break essential. During the midterm and exam season, the line is often so long that it goes all the way down to the quiet study room. But with prices on the rise, some are wondering if it’s still worth it. A second-year communications student says she’s considering switching to making coffee at home.
“I used to grab a medium iced coffee almost every day between classes,” she said. “Now, I’m thinking about getting a coffee maker for my dorm.” Some students, however, say they’ll stay loyal no matter what.
Still, the question remains. Will Laurier students keep using the campus Tim Hortons, or has the price of a cup of coffee finally hit a breaking point?
With midterm season in full swing and stress levels climbing, it’s safe to say caffeine demand isn’t going anywhere. But whether that caffeine comes from a Science Building double-double or a dorm room Keurig might just depend on how much more Tim Hortons decides to bump their prices up.
Contributed Photo/Sangjun Han
