Track competitor coffee prices without false comparisons

1. Choose comparable rivals

Start with shops a customer could reasonably choose instead of yours. Match the delivery country, coffee format and broad price range. A local roaster selling whole beans is a better comparison than a supermarket selling instant coffee.

Pick 1 comparable product from each rival. Keep those product links for next week. Compare similar origins, blends and quality claims where possible. Different coffees can justify different prices.

2. Compare the same coffee

Record the selected bag weight, quantity and grind, not just the starting price. Separate whole bean, ground coffee and pods. Keep currency consistent.

Record one-off prices separately from subscription prices. A first-order discount is not the recurring price. Note codes, eligible customers and expiry dates when stated. If terms are unclear, write “not verified” rather than treating a banner as a guaranteed saving.

3. Check delivered cost

Use the same destination and delivery service for every comparison. Record shipping charges, free-shipping thresholds and any exclusions. Build a basket your customers might actually buy, rather than adding products just to qualify for free shipping.

Do not enter payment details or place an order to gather prices. If delivery costs require personal details, leave them unverified and use the public shipping-policy page.

4. Keep a weekly record

Use 1 row per product each week. Copy these column names into your spreadsheet:

Date · Rival · Source URL · Currency · Product and grind · Bag weight · One-off price · Price per 100g · Discount terms · Subscription price · Destination · Shipping charge · Free-shipping threshold · Delivered total

Save the page address and observation date beside every number. Compare this week’s row with last week’s before calling anything a Change. Your first review establishes a baseline; it cannot prove a recent price rise or a new sale.

Check discount terms as well as product pages. For example, Grind’s public discount page distinguishes offers with subscription conditions. Verify current terms yourself; offers can vary by location and change.

5. Choose a move, not an automatic discount

• Match: Consider matching only when the comparison is fair and your margin supports it.
• Answer: Consider a different offer, such as a useful bundle, without copying the rival’s price.
• Ignore: Leave your price alone when the products differ or the offer is temporary and unprofitable to match.

Public prices cannot reveal a rival’s margins, stock or sales. Treat any suggested Move as a decision to consider, not proof of what will sell. If nothing meaningful changed, record a Quiet week and leave it there.