Waking up in the morning could be rather tough without that surge of caffeine that we get from a cup of coffee. Many people around the world take pleasure in coffee throughout the day, but paying for this delicious treat can really have you hurting for money. When it comes to coffee a lot of people are okay with budgeting around the high prices so they can have a little treat. The great thing about coffee is you can make it incredibly cheap with a little know how. No longer will you have to wait in lines to purchase a cup of coffee that shouldn’t cost you any more than a dollar. With these simple tips you’ll be able to enjoy as much coffee as you want throughout the day, without having to pay what you are now.
1. Don’t Get Fancy
For some reason coffee has become an incredibly complex beverage over the last decade. Everyone wants to purchase the newest technology in coffee makers and people take pride in owning machines that are overly complex for any household. If you really want to save money step back and breathe before you buy a coffee maker. One of the best things you can do before purchasing is look at the drinking habits of the household. If you’re the only person who drinks coffee and you generally have about one cup a day then the new k-cup machines might be a good match, but you don’t have to buy the over sized and more expensive editions. You might also want to look into getting a filter too as k-cups can get a bit pricey. Of course, if you live in a household that drinks a lot of coffee then a simple brewing system might be your best bet. You can also look into one that has an area that will pour right into your travel mug. Once you’ve evaluated your needs try to choose the machine that is simple as this will be the cheapest bet. Remember, even a french press brews a great cup of coffee and you don’t even have to hook it up to a plug!
2. Grind Your Own Beans
When you go to purchase coffee you have a whole lot of options. One of your cheapest options is to buy coffee beans that haven’t been ground yet. You can purchase these beans in all sorts of flavors so you won’t be missing out on anything by purchasing coffee this way. Coffee grinders aren’t expensive either and if you already have a food processor then you’re pretty much ready to go. The reason why coffee beans are a better buy is because they come in larger packages for around the same price as a standard bag of ground coffee. The coffee beans also allow you to grind what you need for a week so you won’t have to deal with stale coffee. If you’re really into a fresh cup then grind the coffee each day! You’ll love how bold your coffee taste and will love how little shopping you have to do for coffee.
3. Buy Generic
If grinding your own coffee isn’t something you’re into then try shopping for a generic brand. One of the best ways to avoid paying too much for coffee is to browse the lower section of the coffee aisle. Generally, the more popular name brand coffees tend to be placed at eye level so people will grab them and carry on with shopping. There are a good number of brands that aren’t popular but still taste incredible. Sometimes, these brands have a more authentic and fresher taste then the big names. When you start out buying a different brand try choosing the smallest package available just in case you end up not caring for the brand. When you find one you like then try to aim buying a bulkier package so you save even more.
4. Make Your Own Creamer
Creamers are a major part of coffee today. They have flavored ranging from the classics to some of your favorite candy bar treats, which makes it even harder to say no to purchasing more. When it comes to creamer you can actually make the good stuff in your own home. Most creamers follow the same basic recipe which is generally milk and sweetened condensed milk, which most people already have in their own. There are a whole lot of recipes for homemade creamer on the internet, so let your sweet tooth guide you to what you’d like to try first. Most of the creamers will only take a few simple ingredients so make sure you have what you need when you go shopping next. You can even recycle your old creamer bottle for your new home made delight. You might even look for recipes that involve less sugar if you’re on a diet. Home made creamer will not only save you money, but it will be a healthier alternative to the store bought stuff.
5. Frothing
Frothing can go a long way when it comes to a cup of coffee and many people are willing to pay a whole lot of money for this technique. The thing is a frother only cost you around $2 and is simple to do at home. So, if you’re a huge fan of lattes and cappuccinos put your wallet away and look into buying yourself a frother to save money. This process is simply whipping regular milk or creamer so you don’t need to buy anything special to have a great cup of coffee in front of you. You might even find that your friends are coming over a lot more to get your expensive tasting coffee instead of heading to the local overpriced coffee shop.
6. Join a Coffee Club
Coffee is a major social thing in many countries, so there is already a whole lot of coffee clubs looking for members. If you really want to save money on more expensive brands of coffee then this is the way to go. You can search online for a clubs that suits your needs so don’t be afraid to look around and ask questions if you want. A good number of coffee clubs will actually send you free samples of some of their coffee, so you can enjoy several different types of coffee without paying a penny. If you do enjoy a certain type you can always buy if from the club and will usually get a pretty decent discount. Of course, some coffee clubs might only send you coupons on sale information, but every little bit help. One of the best features is being able to meet people who share your love of coffee and getting recommendations from them on what you should try out next.
7. Flavored Coffee
Coffee with a little extra flavor is pretty popular these day. You shouldn’t have to pay extra for something that is simple to do at home though. If you can’t get enough of flavoring in your coffee then stick to buy plain coffee. When you’re in the mood for a little extra flavor then you can take a variety of spices and put them into the coffee ground when you brew. All spice is one of the most popular items to put into coffee as it will give you the ever popular pumpkin spice coffee that everyone loves in the autumn months. You can even add a little spice to your froth to make the taste extremely bold. If you love the taste of fruit in your coffee then stock up on dried fruits. This can be expensive so if you have a dehydrator then you can easily do this for yourself. When you brew the coffee add the fruit to the grounds, or if you’re using coffee beans then grind the fruit in with the beans and you’re ready to brew a delicious cup.
8. Buy in Bulk
If you’re a coffee lover then you might want to add coffee to your bulk buy list as this alone can save you a whole lot of money. Usually bulk buy stores will have larger coffee canisters so you can get a whole lot of coffee for your money. Generally, when you buy like this you can easily several months worth of coffee for the price of one month. The same can be said when it comes to coffee beans in the bulk stores. If you really want great coffee beans then try looking at your local farmer’s market. They often have a wide selection and you can buy a whole lot of beans at once. You might think buying coffee in bulk is a bad idea because it will go stale. If you don’t take extra precautions then it will, but there are a lot of trips that will keep your coffee fresh for longer periods of time. You can always stick the coffee in the freezer in order to keep it tasting fresh for a long time. You can also vacuum seal some of the grounds or beans so they have even more protection from the test of time. After you begin buying bulk having coffee in the home will become such a convenience that you won’t think twice about it next time you stock up.
9. Don’t Throw Coffee Out
One major way we lose money on our coffee is by throwing it out. Sometimes we will brew a pot and not have time to finish it or find we just aren’t in a coffee mood anymore. Don’t just throw out this old coffee though! Instead take the pot and put it in the refrigerator, or simple put the coffee into something else and place it in the refrigerator. When you get ready to brew a pot the following morning add what you didn’t finish off the day before so it doesn’t go to waste. A lot of people believe their coffee will taste stale when they do this. When you add a freshly brewed pot onto the older coffee it will taste just like the freshly brewed pot. Now, you will have a bit extra to make up for your caffeine loss the day before. You could also take the coffee from the refrigerator and turn it into a delicious cup of ice coffee to cool you down on a hot day. This is especially great for a mid work day treat so you can get a little extra boost and still find satisfaction with the day.
10. Gas Stations
Sometimes we just don’t have time to brew a cup at home, or we’re out and about when the coffee urge strikes. If this is the case then you should try to avoid the expensive coffee and doughnut shops as much as you can. Instead, head to your nearest gas station or convenient store to fill up on your caffeine needs. Gas stations have known people need coffee, especially when they’re on the road, for decades. This is one of the reasons why they have such an amazing selection of coffee that even rivals your local coffee shop. Usually you can grab a cup of coffee and load it up with milks, sugars, creamers and anything else you can think of for no extra cost. Most gas station will even have ice coffee ready for the pour or a cappuccino machine.
You don’t have to skip out on your coffee just because the prices at the shop are a bit too much. With these tricks you can get the most coffee for your money so you won’t ever have to experience a caffeine crash again. Now, you won’t ever have to settle for a mediocre cup of coffee because you’ll have all of the tools to make the most out of your daily treat.
Author: Chelsey McQuitty
