The Daily Valet. - 10/10/23, Tuesday
✔️ The Cost of Coffee
Tuesday, October 10th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
How do you take your coffee? I can drink cold brew black, but my hot coffee needs lots of cream and, ideally, some stevia.
Today’s Big Story
The Cost of Coffee
There are several reasons why your favorite brew Is More Expensive Now
I don't want coffee to get too expensive. Because I really like to drink a lot of it—in the morning, of course. It also makes for a great afternoon pick-me-up. Maybe even a cup to wind down after dinner? But if you appreciate a full-flavored third-wave brew or creamy Cortado as much as I do, you've likely noticed how expensive it's getting.And while coffee is indeed getting more expensive, the reason why is not solely inflation. Nor is it supply chain disruptions, as has been the case with so many tasty items since the early days of the pandemic. A recent deep dive by Vox explains what has contributed to the climbing costs of our favorite coffee drinks. “Nowadays, the base price for a regular latte is something like $6,” writes Emily Stewart. “Then maybe you add in vanilla syrup, which costs you an extra dollar, and ask for oat milk, which is a dollar more. You're now staring at an $8 drink, plus taxes and, assuming you're doing the right thing here, at least a $1 tip.”Of course, we as a culture have been questioning why coffee—an American lifeblood—has to be so expensive for years. It seems to be a perennial question and I'm sure you've heard an old person in your life talk about buying a cup for a dollar (or less). So where do the creeping costs come from? Let's start with the most obvious: The beans. According to The Takeout, coffee is a commodity, a valuable agricultural product whose price can fluctuate year to year. Right now, the price of coffee beans is not as high as it has been in the recent past; last year, beans were at peak prices. “But a business like a cafe can't be constantly changing its prices to reflect the latest cost of these commodities, so the cost of a beverage is often designed to withstand some market fluctuation and keep business margins steady.”Interestingly, Delish notes that certain drinks can also cost more depending on the process by which they're made. Cold brew coffee, for example, requires a greater volume of coffee grounds to be steeped for a longer time (and often uses different equipment) so it commands a higher price. And then there are the increasing costs of the materials needed to serve it to you—everything from plastic or paper cups, a range of lids, cardboard sleeves and trays, and straws. Those all fluctuate in price depending on quality and sustainability. Quartz illustrates the cost of these materials for any establishment doing takeaway business. And remember that at most coffee chains these days, you get the disposable cup regardless of whether you drink your coffee there or leave with it.Then there are increasing rent for storefronts and the fact that baristas are making better money in most cities. Charging more for a cup of coffee is one way for businesses to defray the higher payroll costs. Then again, fancy coffee has always cost more than the stuff sold at the gas station, right? Which is to say, the price of pour-overs and lattes probably isn't going to go down anytime soon. And as much as we all have been annoyed by the price hikes, we're still lining up for more. In fact, according to Starbucks sales reported by the Wall Street Journal, many people have begun ordering fancier drinks. We just can't help ourselves, can we?
FYI:
Coffee beans are technically the pits of the cherry-like berries found on flowering shrubs. Because of their resemblance to legumes, we name them “beans.” But, technically coffee beans are seeds.
Israel Orders ‘Siege’ of Gaza
By the end of a third day of fighting, the war and rhetoric had escalated between Israel and Hamas militants
Israel ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip on Monday as it retaliated for the largest and deadliest incursion into its territory in decades. Israel's defense minister said the authorities would block deliveries of food, water and fuel into the already blockaded enclave. A spokesman for Hamas's military wing threatened to execute a hostage each time an Israeli airstrike hits Gazans in their homes. In an address to his nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We have hard days coming ... this is just the beginning,” but added that Israel would be victorious.The death toll since Saturday's incursion topped 1,600, and the number of people wounded surpassed 6,000. According to the New York Times, the feeling of shock among Israelis over the attack and “the obvious intelligence failure that allowed it to happen is compounding the fear of what might yet be to come.” Many were already calling it their country's 9/11, or Pearl Harbor.President Biden said the United States stood “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Israel and promised more help. At least 11 Americans were killed in the attack, he said in a statement on Monday. Israeli officials reported that U.S. citizens were among the people militants took to Gaza and were holding hostage. Biden said the U.S. was working to verify those reports, but it was “likely that American citizens may be among those being held.”
Kennedy Will Run As an Independent
The political scion ends his campaign as a Democrat, Causing concerns for both parties
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he was dropping his longshot bid to defeat incumbent President Joe Biden in the Democratic primary, and instead will run as an independent presidential candidate in 2024. Speaking to a crowd of supporters outside the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Kennedy—who the New York Times calls a leading vaccine skeptic and purveyor of conspiracy theories—said he represented “a populist movement that defies left-right division.”With so many people turned off by the ugliness of politics, some experts believe that Kennedy could play spoiler in a close 2024 contest between President Biden and former president Trump, the current GOP primary frontrunner. An Ipsos/Reuters poll published this month found that in a three-way 2024 matchup, 33% of respondents supported Trump, 31% supported Biden—with the pair too close to call—and 14% supported Kennedy.Of course, as CNN points out, independent and third-party candidates have struggled in the past to garner substantial support in presidential elections. In 1992, Texas businessman Ross Perot mounted one of the most successful independent runs in recent history, ending with 8% of the vote in the general election that was ultimately won by Bill Clinton. And it certainly doesn't help Kennedy's chances that his own siblings called the announcement “deeply saddening.”
Meanwhile:
The Intelligencer goes on the campaign trail with the candidates vying (in theory, anyway) for the Republican nomination.
The McRib Is (Sort of) Back
McDonald’s is bringing the legendary BBQ Pork Sandwich out of retirement and the internet doesn’t know how to feel
It's a sandwich that's always returning, isn't it? For more than four decades, a simple announcement seems to capture the appetite and imagination of millions around the world over and over again: “The McRib is back.” Only, this time, the return of the restructured pork meat shaped like a miniature rack of ribs is actually a little surprising.You might recall that last fall, McDonald's announced the McRib sandwich would be going on a “farewell tour,” seemingly finishing a cult-favorite menu item forever. It's been retired from the menu multiple times, having returned in 2020 after eight long years without it. Since then, it's been featured for a limited amount of time, only to be locked in the proverbial McVault last year.Some food sites didn't buy it. Despite the insinuations, The Takeout knew it would return, but found out that it's something of a soft relaunch. “It won't be available nationwide,” McDonald's told them in a statement. “However, some lucky fans may find their favorite elusive saucy sandwich at their local restaurants this November.”
DIg Deeper:
The famous McDonald’s sandwich has a long, strange history. Thrillist digs into the military experiments and fast food conspiracies.
In Other News
Here is why that's a serious problem.
What Is Artificial Turf, Exactly? Synthetic Grass Has Really Come a Long Way Since the Days of AstroTurf.
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Five Common Shaving Mistakes
Have You made any of these lately?
Most men have been shaving a few times each week since puberty. Which results in plenty of practice at dragging that sharp blade across their face. But that doesn't mean they've gotten any better at it. After all, most of us do it first thing in the morning—a time when we're not exactly operating at full speed.And couldn't we all use some improvement? So we consulted some experts to pull together five surefire ways to improve your daily shave and prevent the most common blunders made at the bathroom sink. You may've already shaved today, but consider this your primer for tomorrow.
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Shopping
What We’re Buying
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
You’re not imagining things, Amazon Prime Day is back. It's almost as if the 48-hour shopping event never went away. But the mega-retailer has decided to do it all over again, this time with a slight twist to jump-start your holiday shopping. Or convince you that you should treat yourself before you start spending on everyone else. In truth, it is actually a great time to stock up on staples or if you've been holding off on buying that new air purifier or 55-inch TV, this is when you can typically score the best price of the year.
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