We all have our favorite place to buy coffee from whether it’s a famous coffee chain or a local coffee shop. You probably even have a dedicated coffee routine and your go-to coffee order when you go to a coffee shop.
While you may not notice it, having your daily coffee can add up to your expenses, especially if you like to buy it all the time. It probably won’t break the bank if you have set aside a budget for it.
But, if you are saving up for something else, having your daily coffee fix can set you back. Saving money on coffee doesn’t mean you have to stop drinking it altogether.
This article will cover 5 ways you can get your daily coffee fix while still saving $1000 this year!
In this article:
- Make Your Own Coffee at Home
- Use a Reusable Filter
- Buy a Milk Frother
- Use an Insulated Coffee Tumbler
- Take Advantage of Coffee Shop Reward Points
Make Your Own Coffee at Home
One way to save money on coffee is by making it on your own. Coffee shop drinks can be pricey and your daily order of coffee can definitely add up quickly.
If you spend about $3 on a cup of coffee every day, that’s already a total of $1095 for 365 days. For a famous coffee chain, like Starbucks, a venti cup can cost about $5 and above depending on your coffee order.
Making your own coffee at home can reduce the amount of money you spend in coffee shops. This may seem inconvenient, especially if you don’t have time to make coffee every morning, but you can get your daily caffeine fix while saving money in the long run.
By brewing your own coffee at home, not only you can save money but you can also control what goes in your coffee. You can make it as strong as you want or add on other flavorings like syrup and cream without the extra cost.
Of course, you will still spend money on coffee grounds, creams, or even flavored syrup. But, these usually last for a couple of weeks, even months, if you buy the big bottles.
You can also buy freshly ground coffee in different weight volumes so you’ll have something to brew daily until you finish a pack. You will save more by buying a 12-ounce pre-ground coffee than buying a $5 coffee daily.
Buying coffee beans in bulk and grinding them can save you more money in the long run than just buying pre-ground coffee. This also gives you the freshest coffee all the time!
Use a Reusable Filter
If you are already making your coffee at home, you can look into using reusable filters instead of disposable ones. This is really handy, especially if you use a brewing device that needs a filter like a V60 or even one of those single-serve coffee makers.
If you have a single-serve coffee maker like a Keurig, using reusable filters can help you save money from buying K-cups all the time.
It may not seem like it but the cost of disposable filters can also add up quickly. By using reusable filters, you won’t need to worry about buying a pack of coffee filters each time you run out of them.
For reusable coffee filters, you can buy a mesh or metal one. Aside from saving money, you’ll also reduce your environmental footprint by preventing coffee filters from filling up the landfills! Win-win!
Buy a Milk Frother
This might be another expense on your end, especially if you are cutting costs on coffee. But, hear me out.
If you like lattes or cappuccinos, chances are, you’ll end up buying one from a coffee shop instead of making your own. If you buy a milk frother, you can make your own lattes and cappuccinos at home!
I have one and I’ve used it many times to froth milk for my coffee. I haven’t bought a single latte and cappuccino since I bought a milk frother.
You don’t even need to buy the expensive electric milk frothers that look like a kettle. A handheld one is fine and will do a good job in frothing milk for your latte or cappuccino.
Use an Insulated Coffee Tumbler or Mug
If you like your coffee piping hot, investing in an insulated coffee mug can keep your coffee hot for a long time. Even if you like iced coffee, you can still use an insulated mug to keep it cold.
Insulated coffee mugs these days can keep your coffee hot or cold for up to 4 hours. With these kinds of coffee mugs, you’ll have hot (or iced!) coffee for longer and you won’t be tempted to buy coffee.
If you finished your coffee and want some more, you can just clean it and use it in coffee shops, if it is allowed. Participating Starbucks stores give a $.10 discount if you use your personal cup when ordering coffee.
It may not be a lot but, if you like ordering coffee from coffee shops that have this kind of promo can save you a little bit of money while you are transitioning to making your own coffee at home.
Take Advantage of Coffee Shop Reward Points
I know I said you should make your own coffee if you want to save $1000 on coffee this year, but I also know buying from coffee shops can be very convenient.
Even if you make your own coffee at home, there are times that you might still have to visit your favorite coffee shop. Most coffee shops have a rewards program that gives you discounts, free drinks, and other perks.
If you’ve already racked up some points from your previous coffee purchases, you can use your reward points to “buy” your coffee. Big coffee shop chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ offer loyalty programs so if you have some points just lying in your rewards card or app, make sure to use them so you can save money!
Final Thoughts
I know buying coffee in coffee shops is very convenient but if you are trying to save $1000 on coffee this year, you’ll have to make some sacrifices.
You don’t have to become a home barista right away. If you are used to buying coffee daily, you can transition into buying just 3 times a week and making your own coffee on days you don’t buy your coffee.
You can slowly limit your coffee purchase to twice a week until you get comfortable with making your own coffee at home every day. Who knows, maybe you’ll stick to making your coffee all the time and save $1000 every year!
