Make It At Home
The best way to save money on coffee is by making it at home instead of buying it at a coffee shop. You can buy a bag of ground coffee for $7 that will last you awhile or you can spend that $7 on one or two cups of coffee from a café. You’ve probably have already heard that you can save a bunch of money by making your own coffee instead of buying it, so maybe it’s time to start listening to that advice.
Buy Whole Beans
If you do decide to make coffee at home, consider buying whole beans instead of pre-ground coffee. Whole beans tend to be at least a dollar or two cheaper than ground coffee. Coffee grinders can be found for as cheap as $10 and they tend to last for years, so it’s well worth the investment.
Buy in Bulk
It’s also a great idea to buy coffee in bulk. Whether you decide to buy pre-ground coffee or whole beans, buying a case of coffee or oversized, bulk packaging can definitely save you money. Your favorite brand of coffee may cost $6.99 per pound, but five bags of that coffee would end up costing you $34.95 whereas a buying a five pound bag would cost you $20. You’d be saving almost $15 by buying bulk.
Take Advantage of Free Coffee at Work
If you work in an office that offers free coffee, you might want to take advantage of that service instead of running out to buy one from a café on your lunch break. A lot of offices serve decent coffee, so while it might not be your preferred brand or blend, it’s still better than paying $3 or $4 for your mid-afternoon coffee fix.
Buy a Smaller Drink
If you aren’t able to curb your habit of visiting your favorite café each day, maybe you should consider buying a smaller drink. Sometimes people buy a large or medium cup of coffee and end up only drinking half of it. The difference in size usually means a price difference of at least a couple of dollars. Whether you want to limit your caffeine intake or just save yourself a few dollars, ordering a smaller size could help you save money.
Don’t Buy a Specialty Drink
Sometimes the specialty lattes or frappuchinos that cafés offer seem too tempting to resist. Many coffee shops heavily promote these items hoping that customers will be persuaded enough to spend an extra couple of dollars on their drink order. While specialty drinks can be delicious, they’re often double the price of a normal coffee. If your coffee shop sells a normal cup of coffee for $2, then chances are that the specialty drink is at least double or triple that price. There are also plenty of other ways to save money on coffee at coffee shops.
Cut Back on Your Coffee Intake
Of course, another great way to save some money is to stop drinking so much coffee. If you current have three or four cups a day, try and cut down to one or two. You’ll be saving a significant amount of money regardless of whether you make your own coffee or buy it in coffee shops and cafés.
Use Coupons, Freebies, or Discount Days
There are almost always coupons or sales on bagged coffee, and you should definitely be on the lookout for such deals. Additionally, many cafés or coffee shops will have free drink days or special promotions. Starbucks, for instance, has a buy one, get one free drink deal around certain holidays. McDonalds sometimes has a deal that offers a free coffee if you buy a certain food item.
Don’t Brew More Than You’ll Drink
Have you ever made a full pot of coffee in the morning only to drink one cup and then rush out the door? Maybe you accidentally put in more water and coffee grounds than you realized and didn’t have the stomach to drink more than a cup or two. While it might not seem like it, brewing coffee that you end up tossing down the drain is a big waste of money. If you’re trying to save money and make your coffee supply last longer, keep track of how much coffee you waste or make. It could save you a lot of money in the long run and help you cut down on coffee waste.
Buy a Different Brand
Do you swear by a certain gourmet coffee brand? While you may enjoy that gourmet coffee, is it really worth $12 a bag? If you’re trying to save money, you might want to try a couple different brands. You might find yourself falling in love with a brand that is significantly cheaper. After all, a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean that the coffee tastes better.
(Photo courtesy of Ian Sane)
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