URBAN

TRENDY CAFES - ARE OVERPRICED MEALS NORMAL?

Wednesday, 1 June 2022
By Ainun Jariah

Cafe hunting trend has become everyone’s new favourite hobby.

( Source: Berita DIMENSi / Ainun Jariah)

Overpriced meals have been normalised in the society ever since cafe hunting became a new fascination to a lot of people.

Abbegail Johnson, 21, a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) student, said that the trend is getting more and more attention, especially among the youngsters.

She stated that it is a great thing that people finally get the chance to explore and discover new places in town, while cafe owners get more recognition at the same time.


Are Overpriced Meals Normal?

Abbegail shared her opinion about how she thinks these trendy viral cafes are pretty overpriced, as she once had a drink that could have bought herself a better fulfilling meal with the same amount of money.

The taste of that coffee was not even new, a regular one at best, and nowadays, it is hard to find drinks that would cost less than RM10, especially in trendy cafes,” she said when reached by Berita DIMENSi via Whatsapp.

Abbegail shares that she always finds it thrilling to explore new cafes, including the part where she gets to give reviews after tasting the meals.

However, what actually hooked her to the trend was how great the place could appear in her eyes, as she said she would definitely visit the cafes that match her aesthetic.

“I think it depends on the atmosphere and the looks of the cafe. If it is instagrammable, then perhaps, it is worth the visit,” she said.

An air-conditioned, vibrant, and comfy atmosphere that would be a great place to have a hang out session with friends.

( Source: Berita DIMENSi/ Ainun Jariah)

Abbegail admitted that she sometimes feels left out if she does not go out for cafe hunting since her friends will be talking about it a lot after the activity.

“I could not relate to anything because I have not been there yet.

“I love to explore new places, so I would get curious if this place they are talking about is really as good as they said it is,” she added.

The Other Side of The Coin

Abbegail described that it has not come as a surprise for her that the meals from the cafe are expensive due to the usage of high-quality ingredients, and not to mention the splendid service provided by the staff with a warm welcome.

“Most importantly, the atmosphere that is air-conditioned, vibrant, and comfy sitting, a great place to hang out overall,” she added.

Meanwhile, Abdalla, the founder of Just Restaurant Supplies (JRS), provided a different outlook in his article about this issue.

He stated that the food price at cafes could seem to be overpriced because there are hidden costs to cover essential things such as the rent and maintenance.

Liyana Rani, 26, who used to work as a barista at Starbucks, agreed with the statement and shared how they require a sum of money to hire baristas and provide special training before they start working.

“Starbucks has their own supplier which they will supply daily. From the raw material, oven, the making and travel require payment,” she said when reached by Berita DIMENSi via Whatsapp.

Regardless of whether the cafe is worth the hype, people will still visit the place to give it a try.

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