- "That's fairer" - Coffee counts ice cream to the gram
Customers at Gaggenau's Cafe Brezels can now buy ice cream in grams, with prices calculated exactly to the gram using a scale. Owner Michael Böhmer told the German Press Agency that this approach is fairer, allowing those with less money to afford ice cream or parents to buy smaller portions for their children. Previously, the "Badischen Neuesten Nachrichten" had reported on this.
Ice cream weights vary
Not only are there annual complaints about rising ice cream prices, but also about increasing living costs. Böhmer's concept addresses this: "It's an opportunity to be solidarity with my fellow humans," he said. Businesses control the price screws, and it's also a matter of societal responsibility. Customers can adjust their orders to their budget and pay exactly for what they receive. "That's a fair story," he said.
This also applies to him and his accounting. No two ice cream scoops are identical: sometimes, the weight of the scoops taken from the chilled counter by his employees differed by up to 30 grams, but they all cost the same.
Since this season, Böhmer has been charging for ice cream by the gram: 100 grams cost two euros. As a guideline, he notes that an average ice cream scoop weighs 80 grams, which is 1.60 euros.
It takes a bit for people to get used to this, Böhmer said. While it's common to order 100 grams of salami at the deli counter, some customers are caught off guard when buying ice cream. "I can see it in their reactions: they're all surprised, but also pleasantly surprised," he said.
Customers seem to like the concept. "You only pay for what you get," said Sergis Givargis. "Sometimes the scoop is bigger, sometimes it's a bit smaller." Steffi Wick praised the idea: "I think it's socially conscious that everyone can afford it, which isn't always the case these days. That's why I think it's great."
Böhmer has noticed that customers are now ordering smaller portions, under 80 grams, which means less revenue for him. "But justice is more important," he said. Unusual orders with odd gram amounts are not common. Instead, customers usually ask for a large or small scoop.
Factors influencing ice cream price
The Italian Ice Cream Manufacturers' Union, Uniteis, also discusses the ice cream price. They point out that the final price depends on costs such as ingredients, rent, staff, energy, and labor. If operating costs rise, ice cream parlors must also increase their prices. Additionally, higher-quality ingredients make ice cream taste better but also cost more.
There are also regional and international differences. A scoop in a busy, centrally located ice cream parlor in Munich will cost more than one in a rural ice cream parlor. In Germany, ice cream is cheaper than in other parts of Europe. In Spain, Italy, or France, a scoop can cost between 3.00 euros and 4.50 euros.
One must also be careful when comparing ice cream prices with those in supermarkets, where prices are often given per liter rather than by weight.
Böhmer admitted that he could introduce billing by weight because ice cream was not the main business of the café. Otherwise, a test might have been too risky. Now he hopes for imitators and has decided: "There's no turning back for me."
Despite the ongoing concerns about rising ice cream prices and living expenses, Boehmer's new approach allows customers to pay for exactly what they consume, offering a fairer option, especially for those with limited budgets or parents buying smaller servings for their children. With this new system, customers can now order their ice cream by the gram, paying 2 euros for 100 grams, with an average scoop weighing 80 grams.
With the change in pricing, customers seem to appreciate the option of paying only for their ice cream's actual weight, as Sergis Givargis put it, "You only pay for what you get." Steffi Wick also praised the concept, deeming it socially responsible, allowing everyone to afford ice cream, which is not always the case nowadays.
