Revolutionizing Business: Transparent Pricing
What Transparent Pricing Really Means at Calamity’s
Let’s talk about something that’s easy to say but hard to do: transparent pricing.
At Calamity’s, we’ve committed to it—not because it’s trendy, but because it aligns with our values of honesty, fairness, and accountability. That said, transparent pricing doesn’t mean we charge you what we pay. It means we show you the true cost of what it takes to make your drink—with care, intention, and a lot more complexity than most people realize.
Why an Iced Latte Isn’t the Same as a Hot Latte
You might be surprised to learn that iced and hot drinks, even when they look identical on the menu, don’t cost us the same to make. The labor is different. The milk ratios vary (though not as much as you'd think). Even the cups and straws have different costs.
This isn’t something most cafes talk about. But we think you deserve to know.
The Real Cost of a Latte
Yes, a latte at Calamity’s will cost more than making one at home. That’s just the reality of running a brick-and-mortar business. We're not just covering ingredients—we’re paying our team a fair wage, maintaining equipment, keeping the lights on, and saving a little for emergencies (because espresso machines do break, usually at the worst possible moment).
Still, we do everything we can to make our pricing fair. We pass along the discounts we get from bulk orders. We evaluate every ingredient we use. For example: we were buying Vermont maple syrup in glass bottles from a shop in Nashville. It cost us $1.70 per pump—and a large drink uses five! That’s $8.50 in syrup alone. We’ve since found a bulk supplier (still in Vermont!) so we can keep that drink on the menu without asking you to fund our maple syrup obsession.
Holding Ourselves Accountable
One of the trickiest parts of transparent pricing? Consistency.
If you’ve ever felt like your drink cost changes depending on who’s at the register—you’re not imagining it. Sometimes I (the owner) see a drink price creeping toward $6 or $7 and instinctively start “forgetting” to charge for extras. That’s not fair to my staff, who do charge properly, and it’s confusing for you. That’s on me.
Transparent pricing forces us to be consistent—and honest—not just with you, but with each other.
Why Some Prices Are Going Up (and Some Are Going Down)
As we evaluate each menu item, you’ll see some prices decrease—especially iced drinks—but a few will increase significantly. There are a couple drinks we've actually been losing money on. No business can sustain that for long.
Our point-of-sale system also isn’t built for the way we operate. Most businesses don’t remove things to lower your total. But we do—less syrup? No cold foam? You shouldn’t pay for that. We’re manually entering these changes, and yes, we’ll probably forget things now and then. Please be patient with us—we’re working on it.
There Will Be Loopholes…
Some folks will find ways to game the system. That’s inevitable. But our community is incredible—and we know the people who support us far outnumber those trying to cut corners.
...But It’s Worth It
Outside of our team and community, this commitment to transparent pricing is one of the things I’m most proud of as a business owner.
You don’t have to buy your coffee here. But you choose to, and that means the world to us. Your loyalty keeps us going—and we do our best to give that support right back.
We lower prices when we can.
We’ve donated thousands to community organizations.
We host and uplift local businesses in our space.
We listen to you. We learn from you. And we build this shop with you.
So thank you—for wearing our merch, for calling this place your coffee home, and for holding us accountable as we grow. Transparent pricing is a journey, and we’re glad you’re on it with us.