The price of coffee is likely to only get more expensive, says New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association president Karla Gichard.

Kiwis are dreaming if they think $2.50 coffee will become the norm.

For years the price of a cup of barista-made coffee has sat around the $4 mark across much of the country, with most coffee drinkers resigned to paying that to get their fix.

However, two coffee chains in downtown Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton are trying to shake things up by selling takeaway coffee for as little as $2.50.

Raglan Roast, which has shops in Raglan, Wellington and Nelson has been charging $2.50 for a takeaway black coffee and $3 for a white coffee since it started in 2001.

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Auckland franchise Coffix​ - also known for its $2.50 takeaway coffee - has opened its first store in Hamilton causing competitors to review their own prices.

Coffix co-owner Nathan Tal said it was able to keep overheads down by selling only takeaway coffee from hole in the wall kiosks meaning it paid less for its premises then regular cafes.

"Everything you can fit into that 8 ounce cup you can get for $2.50," Tal said.

"The truth is that should be the price for a takeaway coffee."

He said Coffix was making a bigger margin on its takeaway coffee than a full service cafe selling coffee for $4.50.

"Our intention was never to hurt the cafes in any way."

Since opening its first kiosk on Karangahape Rd in 2014 the franchise has expanded to four shops in Auckland and one in Hamilton.

Because Coffix was now ordering larger quantities it was getting a better price on its ingredients, which helped improve margins, Tal said.

Over the next two years the aim was to expand the franchise throughout the country.

However, coffee drinkers should not get their hopes up that cafes around the country will be following suit with $2.50 coffee.

New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association president Karla Gichard​ said the costs associated with making a cup of coffee added up.

She said it cost about $2 to make a cup of coffee taking into account overheads including rent, wages, utility bills, equipment and insurance.

Then there are consumable costs such as ground coffee, milk, takeaway cup and lid, flavouring such as chocolate or cinnamon, and sugar or sweetener.

A double shot of coffee, which needs about 16 to 18 grams of beans, costs about 80 cents, Gichard said.

"The coffee is really the minor component of all your costs."

Milk made up a big part of costs especially for customers ordering a large cup size, she said.

Generally black coffee was about 50c cheaper.

Some cafes offered a discount if they bring in reusable cups, but that did not necessarily save on costs and could slow down service particularly if a barista needed to wash the cup, she said.

Each lid costs 10c and cups vary depending on size, colour print but on average cost 15c to 20c each.

New Zealand had one of the most competitive coffee industries in the world and sold coffee for a cheaper price than a lot of European countries.

Prices in the United States were about the same as here, she said.

The cost of coffee could fluctuate depending the price of beans, milk, how the exchange rate and wages.

Gichard did not expect to see the price of a cup of coffee coming down in New Zealand any time soon.

There were a lot of cafes struggling so a reduction in the price of coffee was out of the question.

Glenn Bell, director at Auckland roaster Eighthirty​, said Coffix was hardly shaking up the market.

"There's always been cheap coffee and there always will be. Same as clothes, cars, beer, whatever," Bell said.