What coffee costs at UBC.

Café-by-café price comparison.

Current prices at every notable café on or adjacent to UBC campus. Yes, this includes our competitors. Yes, the prices are honest.

Prices verified August 25, 2026. Walk over and confirm before you count on any specific number — menus shift.

Our full menu pricing.

Every drink we make, every size we make it, exactly what it costs. No hidden fees.

Why coffee prices vary on campus.

A $5.50 latte and a $4.45 latte aren't the same product. The price gap is mostly explained by four things:

• →Bean source.Independent cafés like Great Dane Coffee and JJ Bean buy from small Vancouver-area roasters (49th Parallel, Pallet, Phil & Sebastian). Wholesale specialty beans run $18–$24/lb. Bulk-roasted chain coffee runs $7–$11/lb. Most of the price gap is here.
• →Milk type. Oat milk and almond milk add $0.75 to almost every espresso drink in Vancouver. This is industry standard — not a markup, just a real cost difference.
• →Drink size. The jump from 12oz to 16oz is $0.50–$0.75 and is mostly milk. The espresso shot count usually stays the same, which means a 16oz latte is a weaker drink than a 12oz latte — milkier, less coffee-forward.
• →Syrups and milk swaps. Adding a flavour is usually $0.50–$1.00 — ours are house-made vanilla and chocolate at $0.75. A non-dairy milk (oat, almond, soy) is another $0.75 here, and an extra shot is $1.25.

How much should a UBC student budget per week?

Most students spend $15–$25 per week on coffee on campus. Here's the math behind common patterns:

Bringing a refillable mug saves $0.25–$0.50 per drink at most campus cafés including Great Dane Coffee. Across a school year that adds up to roughly $50–$80.

Cheapest coffee on UBC campus, ranked.

If price is the only thing that matters:

1. Tim Hortons (UBC Bookstore) — drip coffee $2.65. Cheapest on campus. Long lines from 8–10am.
2. Starbucks — tall drip $2.95. Multiple campus locations means short lines but no specialty quality.
3. Blue Chip Cookies (AMS Nest) — drip $3.00. Student-run, profits go back to AMS programs.
4. Loafe Café (AMS Nest) — drip $3.25. Best quality-to-price ratio if you're already in the Nest between classes.
5. Great Dane Coffee — drip $3.50. Cheapest among independent specialty cafés, locally roasted.

Best price-to-quality ratio.

"Cheapest" and "best value" aren't the same. If you actually care what your coffee tastes like:

• ★For drip: Great Dane Coffee or JJ Bean. The $0.50–$1.00 premium over chains gets you locally-roasted specialty beans, not bulk Brazilian.
• ★For lattes: Great Dane Coffee at $5.50 is the value pick. JJ Bean is technically better trained on the espresso side, but it's a 10-minute walk to Wesbrook Village.
• ★For Americanos: Honestly, all four cafés on the list make a fine Americano. The bean quality matters more than the technique. Pick by location.
• ★For specialty drinks: If you're paying $6+ for a flavoured latte, you might as well get one made by people who care. Independent cafés.

Tipping at UBC cafés.

Tipping at over-counter cafés is voluntary in BC. The convention in Vancouver:

• →Quick stop (drip, Americano): $0.50–$1, or nothing. Both are normal.
• →Crafted drinks (latte, cappuccino, specialty): 10–15% is the typical range.
• →Sit-down service: 15–20%, same as a restaurant. Most UBC cafés are counter-service, so this rarely applies.

Common questions about UBC coffee prices.

How much does coffee cost on UBC campus?

Coffee on UBC campus ranges from $2.65 (Tim Hortons drip) to $7.25 (specialty drinks at Great Dane Coffee). A standard 12oz latte costs $4.95–$5.75 at independent cafés on campus and $4.45–$5.45 at chains. Most students spend $15–$25 per week on coffee.

What is the cheapest coffee on UBC campus?

Tim Hortons in the UBC Bookstore has the cheapest drip coffee at $2.65. Starbucks comes in at $2.95 for a tall drip. For better-quality coffee at a low price, Loafe Café in the AMS Nest does drip for $3.25.

Why is independent coffee more expensive at UBC?

Independent cafés like Great Dane Coffee and JJ Bean source from local Vancouver roasters, which costs more per pound than the bulk-roasted beans chains use. The premium is typically $0.75–$1.50 per drink and goes toward bean quality, fresher roast dates, and supporting local businesses.

How much should a UBC student budget for coffee per week?

A reasonable weekly coffee budget is $15–$25. One latte per day from an independent café runs about $35/week; one drip coffee per day is $20/week. Bringing a refillable mug saves $0.25–$0.50 per drink at most cafés including Great Dane Coffee.

Do UBC cafés offer student discounts?

Most UBC cafés do not offer formal student discounts, but several offer rewards programs that effectively act as discounts. Great Dane Coffee runs occasional student specials during exam periods. Bringing a refillable mug is the most consistent way to save money.

Is the coffee on UBC campus more expensive than downtown Vancouver?

UBC campus coffee prices are roughly in line with the rest of Vancouver. Independent cafés on campus charge $5.25–$5.75 for a 12oz latte, comparable to Mount Pleasant or Kitsilano. Chain locations on campus (Tim Hortons, Starbucks) charge the same as their off-campus counterparts.