Overview
- An October market check by consumer centers compared 218 products across Edeka, Rewe, Aldi Süd and Lidl, documenting very large unit‑price differences by format and brand.
- Capsules were the costliest option with reported peaks at €92.26 per kilogram, while pads also ran higher per cup than ground coffee, which was typically the cheapest.
- Smaller pack sizes carried markedly higher kilogram prices than larger packs, and retailer private‑label items were often substantially cheaper than branded products.
- Reviewers found cases of missing or incorrect base prices on shelves and highlighted a confusing array of sustainability labels, noting that some Bio or Fairtrade options were among the cheaper choices.
- Coffee prices have surged in recent years—beans were 45% pricier in June 2025 than in June 2020—prompting calls for legal definitions of terms like “fair” and a formal price‑monitoring body.