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Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
5,632
2,347
USA
I've had some extra some time lately and was thinking how I could reduce my coffee expense.

I was able to bring it down to $1.34 a day from $5.37 a day.

I feel pretty good about it...

Thoughts?
 
I've had some extra some time lately and was thinking how I could reduce my coffee expense.

I was able to bring it down to $1.34 a day from $5.37 a day.

I feel pretty good about it...

Thoughts?
If $1.34 a day fits well within your budget then that is good. If it is too much, then, no.

I drink about 7 cups on average... some days more, other days less. It cost me about $1.50 a day... not that I'm concerned about how much I spend on coffee.
 
At work (whenever I go back) I drop $5/month into the coffers for them to buy coffee and other related supplies (filters, sugar, cream). At 20 workdays a month(most months have more), that's 25¢ a day.

Brewing at home, I can usually manage 50¢-$1.00 a day. Even a Keurig and a couple of cups a day can be that inexpensive. Using even good coffee in a drip pot gets there.
 
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It seems a low number but then again nobody knows your budget. I’m surprised you even ask as you previously sounded like somebody with a good if not very good income.
 
At work(whenever I go back) I drop $5/month into the coffers for them to buy coffee and other related supplies(filters, sugar, cream). At 20 workdays a month(most months have more), that's 25¢ a day.

Brewing at home, I can usually manage 50¢-$1.00 a day. Even a Keurig and a couple of cups a day can be that inexpensive. Using even good coffee in a drip pot gets there.
Not sure if you are paying for throw out K-Cups. You'll save a bundle using reusable K-Cup filters and just loading them with good coffee grounds.
 
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Lay off the coffee.

why.jpg
 

Right I agree, but here's my situation. I'm back on my low carb diet. And I have no energy without caffeine.

I need to keep my weight down for health and also looks, and it's too hard to go low carb without caffeine to give me the energy and pep I need to have a somewhat normal day.
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20 cent coffee is where its at

I actually really like that Folgers coffee that you just mix into the water. You just take some of the grind and throw it in there and it dissolves. It's really good and probably costs 20 cents a cup. Great stuff!
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It seems a low number but then again nobody knows your budget. I’m surprised you even ask as you previously sounded like somebody with a good if not very good income.

It wouldn't make much of a difference to me financially if I spent 1, 5, 10, or 30 bucks a day on coffee BUT this coronavirus situation living in quarantine got me trying to pass the time doing things that are relaxing. Fiddling with my finances and playing with numbers is relaxing for me.
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you are supposed to be in self quarantine, if you are still spending $1.34 you are doing it wrong......

I've been avoiding drive thru as much as possible but sometimes I just gotta go. There's others there too in their cars. Hopefully it'll be ok
 
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Firstly, @AngerDanger is right: Lay off the coffee.

Secondly, Folgers is not coffee. And I doubt that a ten would date a guy who drinks Folgers.

Thirdly, cheap coffee generally means poor quality coffee, not to mention exploitation of people who work to pick and produce the coffee; pay the producers a fair wage, and pay them sufficient to produce good quality coffee, and pay them properly to care for the environment the coffee comes from, while doing so. That means paying more money for (better quality) coffee.

Fourthly, if you do cut down on coffee consumption, this may be an argument to drink less coffee, but better quality coffee.
 
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I'm the guy with multiple news stations on 24 hours (even while I sleep) on multiple TVs and monitors, yet I'm oblivious.


First, make your own coffee, and note I said __coffee__, we've got to get some common language in this discussion, and brother, what you're drinking, that ain't coffee ...

In fact, while we're all locked down, have some fun making some decent coffee. Get a kettle (I think this so much easier vs. using a stove top, YMMV), $20-25. Get a grinder, it doesn't have to be insanely expensive (i.e., < $150), and even some big brand whole beans are better freshly ground vs. pre-ground. Peets, Starbucks, or of course, any boutique brand. Then score a French Press, makes great coffee, fun to use, no consumables (to buy, dispose), $15-30. It's pretty easy to put together a decent drinks, french press and kettle for under $200.

So cost for consumables (i.e., the coffee itself):

It depends on how much you use (obv...), but that's a factor of the strength you make it, somewhat affected by the bean itself. Let's say you were doing a slightly stronger brew, ~2g / oz water, so a typical 12oz bag is ~340g, so that means if you're using 2 grams of that, for each oz of brewed coffee, that's 170oz of brewed coffee - and let's say that's consumed as 8oz cups, so about 22 cups.

Cost based on a $10 bag of beans = ~$0.45/cup + whatever cream/sweetener you may use.

Of course if you go light, drink more/bigger cups, etc., just plug that in the equation. Oh, and enjoy your infinitely better home brew :)
 
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I've had some extra some time lately and was thinking how I could reduce my coffee expense.

I was able to bring it down to $1.34 a day from $5.37 a day.

I feel pretty good about it...

Thoughts?
Is this buying from Starbucks or brewing it yourself? How much coffee do you drink a day? I fell off my no caffeine standard a while back, and discovered an instant coffee I drink on occasion, along with tea and no caffeine herbal teas/coffees.
 
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Firstly, @AngerDanger is right: Lay off the coffee.

Secondly, Folgers is not coffee. And I doubt that a ten would date a guy who drinks Folgers.

Thirdly, cheap coffee generally means poor quality coffee, not to mention exploitation of people who work to pick and produce the coffee; pay the producers a fair wage, and pay them sufficient to produce good quality coffee, and pay them properly to care for the environment the coffee comes from, while doing so. That means paying more money for (better quality) coffee.

Fourthly, if you do cut down on coffee consumption, this may be an argument to drink less coffee, but better quality coffee.

I think that’s very superficial of you to think like that. If a girl can’t date a guy because of the brand of coffee he drinks she’s not worth it.
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You won't get a coffee here for less than $4.50 or so.

I’m pretty sure McDonald’s will brew you a cup for less than that!!!

heck even Starbucks is cheaper i think
 
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It's a good thing I don't drink coffee because my screen would be drenched in it right now.

I wasn't prepared for such potent irony, man.

I just couldn’t believe there’s people out there who think like that but hey maybe that’s why they don’t have a family yet

Or people out there who covid-shame others for taking a break from the madness especially when they themselves have likely faced similar discrimination in their lives

I just want to talk about coffee not PSRI
 
I've had some extra some time lately and was thinking how I could reduce my coffee expense.

I was able to bring it down to $1.34 a day from $5.37 a day.

I feel pretty good about it...

Thoughts?

I depends on your wealth, your disposable income, and the opportunity costs associated with the choices. It also depends on some ethical evaluation, I prefer to pay a few extra cent to help locally owned coffee shops than save and buy Starbucks.
 
I actually really like that Folgers coffee that you just mix into the water. You just take some of the grind and throw it in there and it dissolves. It's really good and probably costs 20 cents a cup. Great stuff!

Hold on one second. Are you saying "great stuff" while referring to... my hands are shaking just at the idea of typing it … to... sorry I can't... to... oh myyyyy…to... instant coffee?
 
I depends on your wealth, your disposable income, and the opportunity costs associated with the choices. It also depends on some ethical evaluation, I prefer to pay a few extra cent to help locally owned coffee shops than save and buy Starbucks.

Eh, local is usually better from my experience no doubt. I had a local coffee once and it really was a treat

BUT

Starbucks is Starbucks lol. It’s more than just coffee. I enjoy the drive down there, the semi-long line in which I order through my app, the baristas who all know me quite well by now.

It’s a fun experience every time.
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Hold on one second. Are you saying "great stuff" while referring to... my hands are shaking just at the idea of typing it … to... sorry I can't... to... oh myyyyy…to... instant coffee?

Yea instant coffee is the best if you use a good 2% milk and sugar (Which I don’t bc I’m on a low carb diet even tho I still drink some low sugar high protein organic skim milk)
 
Eh, local is usually better from my experience no doubt. I had a local coffee once and it really was a treat

BUT

Starbucks is Starbucks lol. It’s more than just coffee. I enjoy the drive down there, the semi-long line in which I order through my app, the baristas who all know me quite well by now.

It’s a fun experience every time.

I have nothing against Starbucks, as a matter of fact I have a Grande black coffee on my desk as I type right now. They offer decent coffee and a somewhat standardized experience; it's good on road trips because they are quite reliable.

Small sidestep here: as I was waiting on my coffee I started talking to the barista. I am impressed by Starbucks corp; not only they were offered emergency pay, but they were offered $2/hr extra, more available OT, and paid leave of any kind. The dude also said that the manager said that he was not going to take time off their accruals if they get sick; it seems that the manager knows that some will abuse this thing but he felt that it was the right thing to do.
 
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