Meeting for a coffee isn’t just about enjoying it yourself, but also about catching up with friends or family. Therefore, it’s no surprise that cafés are filled with laughter, stimulating conversations, and sunny terraces. However, this kind of gathering may soon be a thing of the past.
More and more establishments have developed a new pricing model. Instead of basing the cost solely on what is consumed, the length of stay also plays a decisive role. A system that has generated numerous comments on social media.
“If you want a coffee in Barceloneta, you should drink it in less than 30 minutes,” wrote Maria Lostia on her profile on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. She also shared two pictures: one of the premises and the other of the price list.
There are three price levels, depending on the beverage consumed and the length of stay. So, if you stay for less than half an hour, prices are average; for example, a coffee with milk costs €1.60. However, prices increase significantly over time.
If you stay longer than half an hour, the price for the same coffee increases to €2.50, and if you stay for an hour, it costs €4. In fact, regardless of the beverage, a flat price of €4 applies from the first hour, whether it’s black coffee or tea.
A la Barceloneta si vols un cafè te l’has de prendre en menys de 30 minuts. pic.twitter.com/kJd0dsXjVv
— Maria (@maria_lostia) May 4, 2025
This post has generated over 285,000 views on social media and sparked a wide range of opinions. On the one hand, there are voices claiming this “can’t be legal” or that it’s “crazy.” On the other hand, there are also defenders of the model. “I think it’s good. It’s clearly communicated upfront, so I don’t feel pressured to end the conversation if I want to chat with someone longer. They simply charge me the appropriate fee, and that’s it,” one user commented.
What’s particularly striking is that there aren’t just complaints about the prices. Some users have pointed out the staff’s poor manners, which has resulted in a few negative comments on Google. For example, customers have been called “alcoholics” or accused of having “the faces of criminals.”
