coffee Machine in Plovdiv Displays Prices in Bulgarian Lev Despite euro Adoption
plovdiv, Bulgaria – February 3, 2026 – A coffee machine in central Plovdiv is displaying prices in Bulgarian Lev (BGN) despite Bulgaria officially adopting the Euro as its sole legal tender on January 1, 2024. A local resident alerted media to the anomaly on February 2nd, sharing photographic evidence of the outdated pricing.
The machine, described as rusty and in need of maintenance, is even positioned on a platform seemingly intended to circumvent toll payments. Prices listed on the machine include BGN 0.80 for a coffee, BGN 0.90 for an empty cup, and BGN 0.90 for a Viennese coffee.
“It’s frustrating to see this,” stated a passerby in comments to local news outlets. “The machine is raised to avoid tolls, looks neglected, and is still charging in Bulgarian Lev.We should be fully transitioned to the Euro by now.”
The incident highlights potential challenges in the complete transition to the Euro, particularly for older vending machines and smaller businesses. While the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) initiated a dual circulation period following Euro adoption, allowing both currencies to be used concurrently, this period concluded on December 31, 2025. The BNB has urged businesses to update pricing and systems to reflect Euro-denominated transactions.
Authorities have not yet commented on the specific case of the Plovdiv coffee machine, but the resident hopes that responsible institutions will address the issue promptly to ensure full compliance with the Euro adoption. The BNB encourages citizens to report any instances of businesses continuing to display prices solely in Bulgarian Lev after the transition period.
Keywords: Euro adoption, Bulgaria, Plovdiv, Bulgarian Lev, BNB, currency transition, vending machine, prices, Eurozone.