Stop Charging for Alt Milk

Can we talk about something that genuinely bothers me every single time I order coffee? The alt milk upcharge. Why are we still doing this in 2024?

Seventy five cents. A dollar. Sometimes even more. Just because I want oat milk instead of regular milk in my latte. And look I get that oat milk costs more than regular milk at wholesale. I understand basic economics. But at this point the upcharge feels less like covering costs and more like… punishment?

Some of us literally cannot drink dairy. Like its not a preference thing. Its a “if I drink this my stomach will make me regret every decision Ive ever made” thing. And were getting charged extra for that. For having a digestive system that doesnt cooperate.

Major chains are already making record profits on their coffee. A latte costs them maybe a dollar to make and theyre charging five or six dollars for it. You cannot convince me that absorbing an extra twenty cents for oat milk would break the bank.

Some coffee shops have already figured this out. Theyve dropped the upcharge entirely and guess what? Theyre still in business. Theyre actually thriving because customers appreciate not being nickeled and dimed for basic accommodations.

The environmental argument matters too. Plant based milks generally have smaller carbon footprints than dairy. If we want people to make more sustainable choices maybe we shouldnt be financially penalizing them for doing so?

I know this seems like a small thing to get worked up about. And maybe it is? But its also one of those little daily annoyances that adds up over time. You order coffee every day. That extra dollar becomes thirty dollars a month. Three hundred and sixty dollars a year. Thats not nothing.

Just… stop charging for alt milk. Please. Its 2024. We can do better than this.