Coffee, it’s a beautiful thing.
What is not to love? I generally have a cup or three every day.
Let’s be honest for some people, it is their life blood. Thankfully caffeine doesn’t wake me up which is why I can sit here at almost ten o’clock at night while drinking an iced mocha.
I didn’t come to love coffee until I was in my mid-20s. That first cup of recently roasted small batch, freshly ground coffee with a bit of coconut milk and raw honey won me over.
I have never looked back. That’s what happens when you start with the good stuff.
Since I enjoy the drink so much I realized that I needed to save money on coffee if I was going to continue to do so.
If you are like me these tips will come in handy, and allow you to keep your addiction (Uhm, your love of coffee) going without breaking the bank.
12 Ways to Save Money on Coffee
1. Buy Quality Bulk
You will generally save money if you buy a few pounds of coffee at a time. Many companies, especially smaller ones (at least in my experience) give you discounts for larger orders. For me, a bulk purchase of coffee is 5 pounds.
It is also an ethical issue for me. I will not buy coffee from a company whose workers are not treated and paid fairly.
I think organic, far-trade coffee is amazing, it is always a good, ethical option. I tend to stick to small companies that use organic practices but aren’t yet certified (which can take several years and is very expensive) and where most of the money goes back to the farmers and workers.
When you stick with smaller companies you get to have at least a tiny peek into the lives of those who grew your coffee. Right now my personal favourites are Leiva’s and Hope Coffee. Sometimes I find an ethical brand on Amazon as well.
2. Grind Your Own
Even low-quality beans taste better is you grind your own beans. Sure it tastes a bit better if you grind it right before brewing. Really though if you grind a few days worth at a time and store it in a glass jar you aren’t going to notice, maybe be if you are an uber coffee snob…
You can buy a fancy grinder or you can get along just fine with an inexpensive one like me.
3. Roast Your Own Beans
This is my ultimate goal. The first time I had coffee from freshly roasted beans I thought I had died and gone to coffee heaven. It was SO good.
Do I roast my own right now? No. I do have green coffee beans from Honduras waiting for me buy a roaster or popcorn maker. (Elliot Homestead uses a popcorn maker.) Space to store another appliance is an issue right now.
I saved, at least, $2 per pound when I bought my green beans.
4. Drink the Leftover Coffee
Some of you may gag when you think of this suggestion buy I do it.all.the.time. Frequently I will use it for an iced coffee or a mocha.
5. Make Coffee Ice Cubes
Making coffee ice cubes is my favourite way to use leftover coffee. I keep a tray in the freezer and pull small out everytime I make a fauxcinno. They are perfect in iced “Dirty Chai” as well.
6. Cook with Coffee
If you have a little bit of coffee left, try adding it to a chili or other savory dish. Sometimes I will replace some of the liquid in a chocolate dessert with coffee to bring out the chocolate flavors.
7. Use a French Press
Many people are big time Keurig fans, there is a huge appeal with the convenience of making just one cup of coffee. Even if you have a reusable cup and add your own grounds, it is an expensive initial investment. Most regular coffee pots require you to use a new filter with each pot coffee you make.
The French Press really is the perfect option. It is comparable to the cost of a typical low-end model coffee maker. It is plastic free (which is very important to me). You never have to buy filters since it has it’s own built in.
The taste of coffee from a french press is incredible as well.
8. Make Your Own Creamer
If you are a black coffee fan then you can ignore this tip. Most creamers at the store are not even worth picking up off the shelf at the store. If they are, then you better believe they will not be inexpensive.
My Favourite Homemade Creamers:
9. Clean Your Grinder
I’m not going to lie, I am so bad about this. The oils and dust from the grounds build up and over time impart an off taste to your coffee.
Off taste= bad coffee= throwing coffee out
If you are like me and you grind your dehydrated liver (hello liver pills) and herbs in your coffee grinder you are really going to want to clean it out so that liver taste doesn’t affect the perfection of the coffee.
10. Order Simple Drinks
I am a big believer in spending your money on the ingredients to make coffee drinks at home instead of buying them out. Yet sometimes you are out with a friend, maybe you are working at a coffee shop, or you are running errands and you really want a coffee.
It’s okay to give yourself that freedom sometimes. When I get a coffee out I try to stick to basic drinks like a black coffee or an iced coffee and just add some half and half. I’ve even been known to carry a bottle of stevia in my purse…
That way I can enjoy being out and having an occasional coffee but don’t find myself paying $4+ for a cup of coffee.
(In all honesty I do buy mochas out from time to time, especially when it’s an Organic, Fair-trade shop.)
11. Make Your Own Fancy Hot Drinks At Home
Now this one only applies if you get coffee out. I am a huge fan of fancy coffee drinks. My body doesn’t like them because of all the sugar but I am all about making my own (if you didn’t already know).
Even when using high-quality ingredients like raw milk, and I pay almost $15/gallon for it in the Central Valley still costs me less than a drink at the average coffee shop. I don’t have an exact breakdown for you at this moment.
Fancy Coffee Shop Drinks to Make at Home
12. Cut Back
How many cups of coffee in a day do you really need? Of course, this comes from the woman who is sipping on a mocha at almost 9:30 at night. I range from one to three cups a day but I have been know to drink about five…
This may be stepping on toes but I am of the opinion that coffee should not me drank for long term help for need. I am blessed to be one of those crazy people that can drink coffee at midnight and half asleep with no issues, hence the copious amounts of coffee.
I see coffee as a simple pleasure to be savored and enjoyed. Instead of gulping back several cups in a day limit yourself to just two (because if you are like me, I have a hard time having just one). Over time it adds up, and you find yourself anticipating that cup or two all the more.
Try adding in things like a basic cup of Earl Grey tea or warm vanilla lemonade, which is my favourite way to start my day. Over time it adds up, and you will probably find yourself looking forward to those two cups if you don’t gulp back several a day.
What are your tips to save money on coffee?
I love coffee. I do. I have one large mugful every morning, half with breakfast and then the rest of it while I read a book and my baby plays. Thanks for these tips for saving, and for the brand recos to try out!