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Save Your Wallet From Your Coffee Shop

Posted Mon, Sep 15, 2008, 6:01 pm PDT
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Love your latte? Well, there's no need to splurge on that foamy double delight at your local gourmet coffee joint. At the cost of several bucks a day (or more), it seriously adds up! Set up your own private Starbucks at home and enjoy a tasty cup of java --and some extra dollars in your pocket.

Here's how...

  • Brew It Bold  A great coffee drink starts with a strong cup of coffee. If you have an espresso machine, you're set. Otherwise, you can make double-strength coffee using a French press or drip coffee machine (although anyone with a French press will vouch for the fact that they make the richest non-espresso brew). Experiment with putting a scoop and a half of coffee for every scoop that you normally use.

  • Spice Things Up  If you like flavored coffees, try adding a scoop of spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, or vanilla bean) to the coffee before you brew it.
  • Milk It  Stock up on whole or low fat milk, half & half, or soymilk -- whichever suits your tastes. For hot drinks, half-and-half makes the creamiest blend. For cold coffees, whole or low fat milk makes a smooth, icy treat.
  • Mix Magic  Aside from milk, experiment with other goodies to mix with your java -- powdered hot chocolate or Ghirardelli's Chocolate Syrup makes a mean mocha, while Starbucks Vanilla Syrup offers a yummy touch of sweetness.
  • Top It Off  A little topping goes a long way, so treat yourself to a spoonful of Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon, or a sprinkling of shaved chocolate.
  • Get Iced  For iced versions of your favorite drinks, make a strong pot of coffee, place it in an airtight pitcher (to keep it from becoming bitter) and refrigerate. Mix in a blender with ice and a scoop of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf vanilla powder or sweetened cocoa powder, along with some milk. Add a straw and slurp to your heart's content.

Last but not least, presentation is key. Part of the allure of going to a gourmet coffee shop is the presentation. Bake or buy some muffins and invest in a coffee mug that you love, one that's "grande" sized and makes you feel like you're indulging in something decadent. Cheers!

Find out how to make the perfect cup of coffee.

  • 1. Posted by crissy blue(aka ingrid s) on Thu, Sep 18, 2008, 10:42 pm PDT

    This is a good article!Can save me a ton of money as a college student and thanks for all the tips,shortcuts and everything you shared to make these amazing drinks because now I will go brew my own version of the Starbucks kind!

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  • 2. Posted by blueberriaz on Fri, Sep 19, 2008, 7:57 am PDT

    I luv latte, capuccino... I just can't hold myself..

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  • 3. Posted by Gainesville Berto on Mon, Sep 22, 2008, 10:34 pm PDT

    A tip for brewing iced coffee - QUICK. 1. Brew coffee at double the normal strength. 2. Find a PLASTIC* pitcher twice the size of what you brewed and fill almost to top with ice. *NOTE: Plastic is important because glass can shatter from the drastic temperature change . 3. Pour coffee into container. The ice will melt making it room temp in seconds rather than minutes and be fresher. 4. Serve over ice and hose it down the chute. Example: If you want 20oz of iced coffee, brew 10oz double strenth then pour into a 20oz plastic beverage container almost full of ice = correct strength coffee at room temperature, ready to be poured into iced cups immediately without having to wait for it to cool.

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  • 4. Posted by Desertgirl on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 10:50 am PDT

    I am an admitted, recovering Starbucks junkie....about two months ago I purchased an espresso machine (Mr.Coffee~$50) for my home. The thing has paid for itself many times over. I am having a blast making my own coffee drinks and loving all the money I am saving!!!

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  • 5. Posted by eohippus on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 11:40 am PDT

    This works too. I am a green tea junkie and was going to Starbucks on a daily basis. I now buy their Tazo Green Tea and brew it at home. Eight tea bags will make a 2 qt pitcher and I drink it with a splash of lemonade. Saves me $ 3.39 every time.

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  • 6. Posted by melanie b on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 3:26 pm PDT

    If anybody is like me always running late for work and can't get that cup of coffee down before you leave and going thru drive thru gets expensive you can uy to cups and put whatever you want from espresso to coffee. It not only saves time but money to.

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  • 7. Posted by jslab123 on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 3:44 pm PDT

    coffee isn't even good Tea: now you're talkin'

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  • 8. Posted by cneff327 on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 4:41 pm PDT

    Try Dunkin' Donuts. The coffee is addictive and well priced!

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  • 9. Posted by georgiaclyde on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 6:46 pm PDT

    I came on here for homework and i decided to look at this, i should get my mom on here!!

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  • 10. Posted by Lizzy on Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 6:53 pm PDT

    This is a great article! As someone who used to spend $4 per latte, buying a $12 French press from Ikea has changed my coffee life! I'm going to try some of the tips here to make more than just the standard cup of coffee. =)

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  • 11. Posted by tracylizzy9000 on Tue, Sep 30, 2008, 9:48 am PDT

    thanks for all the tips i love starbucks so i buy visit T.J.maxx and can purchase the same syrups they use and have fun making my yummy coffees.

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  • 12. Posted by Jerry on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:28 am PDT

    great article and tips from all. thanks for sharing!

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  • 13. Posted by symphony38 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:32 am PDT

    As a former Starbucks Manager, I can tell you the absolutely best cup of coffee that can be made is via that of a French Press -- no question about this... No real/true coffee connoisseur will say otherwise... I used to feel guilty selling the big machines to make coffee when the French Press is, hands down, the quintessential method... No other coffee brewing method compares to it... :o)

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  • 14. Posted by thebooper08854 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 10:50 am PDT

    After reading Lizzy's post I asked my hubby if he wanted to take a ride to Ikea to purchase a French Press for making coffee. His reply, "What so you can break another one" I attempted to clean the glass and ended up breaking his French Press after two purchases. He said he didn't want to get another one. Boo Hoo

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  • 15. Posted by thebooper08854 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 11:04 am PDT

    After reading Lizzy's post I asked my hubby if he wanted to take a ride to Ikea to purchase a French Press for making coffee. His reply, "What so you can break another one" I attempted to clean the glass and ended up breaking his French Press after two purchases. He said he didn't want to get another one. Boo Hoo

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  • 16. Posted by thebooper08854 on Sun, Oct 05, 2008, 11:08 am PDT

    After reading the above post from Lizzy I asked my hubby if he wanted to go to Ikea to purchase a French Press. His reply was "What so you can break another one?" I was washing the first one and the glass broke the same thing happened to the second one. We paid $30 and on sale $20 for the second one. He doesn't trust me to keep my hands off of one.

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  • 17. Posted by kernmama on Mon, Oct 06, 2008, 6:52 am PDT

    To get a home-made latte without an espresso maker.... put about a third of a cup of milk in the microwave--watch carefully until it starts to foam up! Go to Smart and Final, or some other warehouse store, and get the to-go cups with lids. You've got it made!

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  • 18. Posted by Lauren M on Mon, Oct 06, 2008, 11:59 pm PDT

    No thanks. I'll just keep drinking my Starbucks and Coffee Bean.

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  • 19. Posted by dwnnn on Wed, Oct 08, 2008, 2:07 pm PDT

    Sorry....Nothing beats my Dunkin Donuts coffee fix .... Gotta have it in the morning...and afternoon....I am hooked~~~

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  • 20. Posted by Judy W on Wed, Oct 08, 2008, 4:09 pm PDT

    I smiled when I read this, because I have been doing this for some time! When you are married to an honest cop and have four children (and one is in college), you tighten the belt strings a lot. Great ideas; keep it up. The economy is tight, so we need more ideas like this.

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  • 21. Posted by iliketech on Fri, Oct 10, 2008, 8:25 pm PDT

    This is a good article because I totally agree with it! Everyone in the working world drinks Starbucks or Coffee Bean, it's crazy. Espiecially the wacky frappacino drinks. Some of the drinks are pretty pricey! I think brewing your own coffee at home saves you a bundle. And even if you like a certain coffee that is brewed at Starbucks, keep it in the little coffee bags so you don't have to spend $1.50 or more every morning. Although going to a coffee house saves a little time if you are running late to work, try making coffee in advanced so you don't have to wait for the coffee to brew. Let the machine brew it when you are getting dressed for work. I really like this article! :)

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  • 22. Posted by Ruben Hubert on Sat, Oct 11, 2008, 7:13 am PDT

    I drink about a pot of coffee every day at home. Black, no sugar. Once a week I treat myself to a frozen latte or mocha. They even have $1 coupons on the back of most receipts and when I buy 8,maybe every 2 months, I get a free one. It's only $3.79 (the dollar I save goes for a tip) a week. I got a good one yesterday, pumpkin spice. With whipped cream on top it tasted exactly like a pumpkin pie.

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  • 23. Posted by sfvnl9@verizon.net on Sat, Oct 11, 2008, 1:26 pm PDT

    Try using espresso roast from starbucks in your french press to make flavored coffee drinks at home. You can also purchase most any of the syrups from the stores and they can replace that glass in your french press too. Use nutmeg or cinnamon sprinkles from the grocery store on top of your redi-whip. Try the red sugar sprinkles in anything with peppermint....

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  • 24. Posted by semarzolph@sbcglobal.net on Sat, Oct 11, 2008, 1:46 pm PDT

    By the way, you can buy huge bags of Starbucks coffee at Sam's Club for about $12.00. They also sell those flavored syrups for just a few bucks.

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  • 25. Posted by bricky420 on Sun, Oct 12, 2008, 9:06 am PDT

    ill take duncan donuts anytime

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  • 26. Posted by sdn100 on Sun, Oct 12, 2008, 2:23 pm PDT

    That's Dunkin' Donuts to be exact and yes, I agree with you on this.

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  • 27. Posted by Donald B on Sun, Oct 12, 2008, 7:15 pm PDT

    You're kidding me right? As if everyone and their weird brother doesn't realize that the coffee shops 1 don't serve real coffee at least not like what I grew up with and 2 They charge an arm and a leg for a cup o' sweet & naughty. If one is to complain about gas prices yet enjoy their *whatcha-ma-call it*. Come on 20ounces for $5.00 lol. 1-2 per day per 5 day week equals a tank of gas. lol Next, go old school, learn to brew some house coffee and then if you must, mix it up with milk, creams, flavors and all that. You will save enough money to afford gas and you *know* what is in it. Have a great day!

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  • 28. Posted by xxsk8er282xx on Sun, Oct 12, 2008, 7:40 pm PDT

    This article makes some sense... To save a buck here and there when the economy is in such poor shape. I agree. Although, I do have to say that I myself, cut costs elsewhere (walking to work, buying cheap toilet paper, whatever it takes) and not by just skipping the trip to the coffeehouse completely. Baristas generally are very well learned about coffee and it's the experience partly that makes a latte so great!!! So think about the joy you get out of talking to the cute barista and sipping the much better, much more real latte when you are trying to decide between Charmin ultra, ultra soft or somewhat papery thin off brand? Ha-ha. Seriously...

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  • 29. Posted by Rachel M on Tue, Oct 14, 2008, 6:32 am PDT

    my daughter started brewing her own coffee and taking it to work to save money. she did love her dunkin' d's but times being what they are........ we happen to love the coffee at mcdonalds and at 35 cents a cup for us seniors, how can you go wrong!? that includes a refill.

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  • 30. Posted by Rachel M on Tue, Oct 14, 2008, 6:34 am PDT

    post script......for a treat we do like tim hortens coffee. sooooo fresh

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