Just realized my lavender latte syrup was costing me double

I was chatting with a supplier at a trade show last month and he casually asked what I pay for syrup. When I told him, he laughed and said I was getting ripped off lol. Turns out the big name brand I was buying from charges way more than local syrup makers. I called three small producers in Portland and got samples delivered this week. Anyone else find cheaper alternatives for popular drink ingredients?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim_west29d ago

My buddy runs a coffee cart in Seattle and he told me about this bakery that was selling him day old croissants as fresh... They were charging premium price too. He switched to a local baker who delivers them warm at 6am for half the cost. Made me think about how many places just blindly trust their suppliers without shopping around.

hugo_schmidt27d ago

Man that syrup thing hits close to home. @kim_west your buddy's croissant story is basically what happened with my coffee supplier last year. I was paying this big distributor top dollar for beans and a local roaster at the farmers market asked what I was spending. He nearly choked on his drink when I told him. Started grabbing bags from him for like 40 percent less and they were roasted two days prior not two months. Makes you realize how many middlemen are just padding their pockets while we're out here thinking we're getting quality.