"Despite the fact that we were going through tough times economically and CPI was only 1.5 per cent, coffee prices rose 7.5 per cent in the same period in Brisbane," Gilkatho managing director Wayne Fowler said.

The company, which surveyed about 200 cafes each in the three centres, found coffee consumers in Brisbane could pay as little as $1.60 or as much as $4.50 depending on where they went.

Milton was the most expensive suburb overall, with an average cappucino price of $3.44. But Bulimba recorded the highest price for a simple espresso coffee - $4.50.

The cheapest coffee was in the CBD where prices were as low as $1.80 and the average was $3.23 a cup, the same as West End.

In Sydney, prices ranged from $2-$4.50 and in Melbourne prices ranged from $2-$4.