Our great-grandparents would probably be shocked to learn how much we spend on coffee. They would also be quite surprised that we put more than just cream and sugar in our brew. The truth is the cost of coffee can be quite expensive. However, there are a few ways to cut the costs. Here are just five ways to save money on coffee.
Make Coffee at Home
I used to think that it was no big deal to spend $3.67 for a large iced mocha. However, add that up over the course of five days a week and that's $18.35. If this continued for a year, I would be spending around $954 on coffee! That's insane. That's two and half car payments. Thankfully, I came to my senses and started making coffee at home.
Invest in a Single Cup Coffee Maker
Now, I'll admit, I don't drink a lot of coffee. I have one or two cups in the morning and that's it. This means that even if I were making only half a pot of coffee, there was still a lot going to waste. This is why I love single cup coffee makers. You don't have to invest in a $200 version either. There are single cup coffee makers that can be purchased for less than $20.
Reuse K-Cups, Pods, Etc
If you do have a machine that uses expensive K-Cups or pods, you can actually reuse them a second time. You should only do this is you're drinking the second cup shortly after making the first or you could risk the coffee molding. Also, you can purchase reusable cups that can be filled with your own coffee.
Save Expensive Coffee for Special Occasions
If you just need a quick pick-me-up in the morning before work, you probably don't need to break out the more expensive chain brand coffees. Instead, opt for a middle of the road coffee that you've drank most of your life. Save the really good coffee as a dessert coffee.
Place Coffee in the Freezer to Preserve the Flavor
If you find that you can't use an entire bag of ground coffee before it starts to lose its flavor, place the bag in the freezer. You can get out what you need for a couple days' worth of coffee and the rest of the coffee will stay nice and fresh.
Coffee doesn't have to cost close to $1,000 a year. You can enjoy delicious coffee without spending a fortune. All it takes is making coffee at home and using a few tricks to make it last.
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