Even in times of crisis Croatians are not giving up their coffee, with consumption maintaining last year’s levels despite predicted price increases.

According to MEMRB research, Croatians drank 10.6 million kilograms of coffee in the past 12 months totaling 791 million kunas (108.6 million Euros).

The prices of coffee on the world market jumped 20 per cent in July. The inclement weather in Brazil that has affected the worlds biggest area of raw coffee cultivation has led to 10 per cent lower yields compared to last year. The increase of raw coffee prices was 45 per cent last year, but its final affect on retail prices is not yet know.

Judging from the results of a survey by magazine Ja Trgovac and the agency Hendal conducted in July on a sample of 407 people, the announced increase in prices will likely have little affect on Croatian demand.

According to the survey, 80 per cent of adults in Croatia consume some form of coffee at least once a day. A smaller percentage drinks coffee twice a day, while a very small number does not drink coffee regularly.

Seventy per cent of Croatians prefer to drink Turkish coffee, 15 spend their money on instant coffee, while 12 per cent prefers cappuccino. Only a few like to drink decaf or ice café.

Domestic coffee producers are ahead of their foreign counterparts, so 47 per cent of Croatians prefer Franck coffee and 12 Glorija. Swiss Nescafe is third with 16 per cent.

Although coffee bars remain a meeting point for friends, almost 94 per cent of Croatians drink coffee at home, the daily portal Dalje writes.