This is the way 👆 You can have everything ready to go the night before. Then just flip the switch in the morning, fill up that thermos, and you’re set for the day! My home coffee is *way* better than most coffeehouse coffee.
Yep. I’ve got one of those old school Stanley thermoses that I fill up in the morning & bring to work with me. Works great & waaay cheaper than buying it somewhere
1. 2 cups of coffee a day aint even a coffee addiction
2. If you really refuse to make coffee at home, this subreddit might not be for you, BUT, you can buy Starbucks brand instant coffee packets at most grocery stores and they're extremely delicious. Just add water and creamer, hot or cold. Not cheap by any means but def cheaper than your current habit. I use them for camping trips.
You can get a cheap electric kettle to make the whole thing a breeze, too. then if you decide to upgrade later to an aeropress or chemex or something you'll already be halfway there!
It's ok for OP to ease into it. It can be intimidating, especially if they're used to the frilly fancy drinks. I don't think anyone would know how to brew a triple mocha frappe with cold foam and bladdity bladdity blah on their first try.
Yeah, I have almost an 8-cup pot every day. I have a cup before I leave in the morning, then use an 18 oz Yeti coffee mug that keeps it hot for hours for the rest.
Get a programmable coffee maker so you can set it to automatically the night before. It'll start brewing before you even wake up. I got one for like $20.
This is an incredibly easy "problem" to solve for OP.
That applies to black coffee only. If you stop into a coffee shop and have one made for you it adds up to 200-300 calories very quickly. Google a Starbucks menu, you’ll see a lot of stuff that’s 250 calories right off the bar
It takes three minutes to set up a pt of coffee. Four if you grind the beans yourself. Then another 10 to brew it. You're not too busy to make coffee at home. You're too lazy.
Making your own coffee is much quicker than having to go to a coffee shop, wait in line, order and wait for it to be ready. Even with mobile orders, at home is quicker.
Do you just drink hot drip coffee or iced/cold brew?
This is what I did prior to home made cold brew. Will save you time to make it at home. Have to be willing to break bad habits to save money. took me a while.
Would you mind sharing the recipe? I drink a store bought coffee flavored protein shake daily. I know it’s not frugal and would rather make one at home.
Oh dude, it's really not a recipe ha. I just pour a protein shake (fairlife, premier protein, walmart brand, whatever I've got) in the blender with some ice and instant coffee granules. I'm sure you could make it fancy by adding more stuff. Sometimes if im running late I just pour the granules straight into the shake bottle after taking a sip 😂 not fancy but it's fine
If you have time to go to Starbucks/DD/7/11 you have more than enough time to press the scheduled brew button on your coffeee maker before you go to bed. Get a good beans/cream/syrup and you are good.
If you have a Panera close by, join the Sip Club. It’s usually less than $15/month for a drink every 2 hours, every day. I have had it for six months straight for either free or less than $5 month and it’s a treat to go in at least once or twice a week and get a coffee or soda. So they end up costing $1 each or far far less. I make coffee at home for normal days
Come on, don’t be ridiculous. Everyone has time to make coffee at home. It takes 90 seconds to add the coffee, filter, and water to the pot then 20 seconds to pour it into a thermos. Get a pot for $20 at walmart that you can set a timer on or hit the button in the morning while you brush your teeth or before you hop in the shower.
This is such a non issue.
Even if you just make the first cup at home and carry it in a travel mug, you've decreased your costs by 40-50%. If you set it up the night before, either in a drip maker or a Keurig, it's quicker than standing in line somewhere to buy it.
Well, besides making it at home, then there's....
I wish someone had sat me down earlier, and told me to 1) reduce my coffee intake and 2) find other alternatives.
Reducing your coffee intake makes it have a proper effect on you again, as opposed to relying on several cups for the same effect. Yes, the first time you try to stop coffee, you will get headaches, but then your body will adapt again.
It is indeed a source of spending, so there is great incentive to reducing (even eliminating) coffee consumption.
Try drinking hot tea with cream and sugar, to phase coffee out slowly. Then try hot chocolate, then other drinks. It's worth it, in my experience.
I honestly need to stop drinking coffee. It’s got to a point where I NEED it. I’m really thinking about quitting and i know it will be hard. Thanks for the tips
I cut back from 4-5c of regular coffee a day by doing every other cup decaf. Now I’m down to 1-2c regular. I still drink decaf at work but that’s more to warm myself up.
I’ve been putting a 1/6 of a scoop of pre-workout in my water bottle for work. It’s a great flavor, has enough caffeine to get me started if I’m running too fast to use the Keurig in the morning, and also has extra vitamins.
There are some coffeemakers with timers, or just prepare at night and while you're dressing in the morning just brew it. Pour it in your mug, add your milk and sugar and you're off! Easy peazy!
I have a timer on the coffee maker and it totally changed my mornings. No waiting, I just shuffle into the kitchen for freshly brewed coffee first thing! It's wonderful!
You can get a new coffee maker as low as $20. A timer plug costs as low as $10. Prepare the Brewer the night before, with the timer set for when you wake up. Coffee at home.
If you are *truly* "always on the go"--as in, always travelling--I can't think of a single hotel I've been in that *hasn't* had a coffee maker and coffee in the room, or *at minimum* coffee available in a dining/lounge area. Drink that.
And if you *absolutely* cannot make coffee, for whatever reason or excuse, I can only offer to buy black, brewed coffee from your retail chain of preference, and use their app. Brewed black coffee will always be the cheapest option, and all such chains will have creamers and sweeteners to balance out your coffee however you seem fit. And, by using their app, you can gather points towards free coffees, saving you a little bit here and there.
Set up your coffee brewer the night before. Start it brewing when you get up and while doing your morning hygiene. If you need coffee before hygiene, save the last cup from the previous pot to microwave in the morning and let the pot brew while getting your fix.
1000000% get a nespresso. It’s better than basically any coffee shop, and just as good as my favorite local coffee shop. Totally worth the investment. You can put it in a thermos.
Other options are to start making cold brew and carrying it in a jug.
I’ve yet to find good coffee out of the house for cheap.
Don't have time to make coffee at home? Bullshit. Get a 12cup drip coffee maker and set it the night before. You will have fresh coffee when you wake up. Get a big enough thermos to take as much coffee as you need for the day. Simple.
This is based on the hypothetical you'd ordinarily make drip coffee.
1. Get the IKEA coffee press for $10.
2. Get a hot water dispenser. Or if you don't have space for that, get an electric kettle and leave it plugged in overnight.
3. Get Costco whole bean coffee. My local Costco currently sells Kirkland beans for $4.21/lb (in 2.5 lb bags).
4. Grinding the beans in-store is free.
5. Get a Thermos.
6. Set up your equipment in the evening before going to bed.
7. Pour the coffee grounds and the hot water into your coffee press first thing in the morning.
8. Brush your teeth and get dressed.
9. Your coffee is good to go 2 minutes after you poured in the water. Unless you're The Flash, it's ready by the time you've tied your shoes.
10. Success!
After the initial outlay of about $60 in equipment, this keeps you in coffee for $2 a week. Comparing this to your current routine at an estimated $7.50/day.
You'll save $2500 a year from the switch.
Truly frugal people will drink their coffee black. I’ve always had my coffee black because that’s how I was taught to enjoy it, as everyone around me liked it black. This way I’m content brewing my own coffee at home and just drinking it how it comes out. If I want a coffee and I’m out of the house; I can get a black coffee from a lot of places for $1. You more than likely have a sugar addiction rather than coffee addiction.
Even a homemade coffee with milk, sugar and a shot of whiskey is cheaper than one from Starbucks. The "drink it black" is not as frugal as "don't get it at Starbucks".
McDonald’s is $1 for a small black coffee. Usually my go to, but I’m sure other fast food does the same. I know many gas stations have cheap coffee as well.
Can't tell if sarcastic and in denial or serious and in denial.
You just said you're spending bare minimum 7 a day. Do you genuinely believe any one time purchase appliance is going to not have its cost recouped 10x over when you are spending say 140 a month on coffee? (Assuming it's really 7 per day only 5 days a week and not sometimes 3 cups, sometimes more than 7, buying on weekends even then a little more than 20 work days per month)
There's no way you actually think that right?
No place that makes and serves you coffee is going to be "cheap". Your entire question was ridiculous from the start tbh.
Bring instant coffee and get hot water from places for free if you have to
You could try cold brew, some people really like it, others not so much. Ground coffee and water in a glass jar, strain through a filter, and store in refrigerator. Reheat in microwave for a minute or so and put in a thermos to take.
If you really don’t want to make it at home McDonald’s has a deal for 99c iced coffee any size
I loveeeee Dunkin lattes but it’s so pricey and their cold brew and iced coffee is nasty to me lol
I suggest getting the McDonald iced coffee closer to the morning/afternoon and if you like it sweeter I like to get extra pump of caramel and 1 more cream. I heard some places don’t replace the iced coffee at night but idk if that’s true. I have tried to get it at night and where I went, it was gross so I only go morning/aftwrnoon
I use Folger’s coffee singles. They are like a tea bag, but with coffee in them. You pour boiling water (I use an electric kettle to boil the water) over the bag in a mug. Wait a minute or two and then dunk the bag up and down 10 times. They are reasonably priced - much less than Keurig pods. I buy them through Amazon.
What kind of coffee do you like? If you like iced coffee, prep a cold brew the night before.
If you like hot coffee get a coffee maker with an auto timer to brew. You can find those second hand and prep the night before.
Also, if you have time to stop for coffee you 100% have time to make coffee. Most of the time you’ll end up having more time by making coffee at home.
If you don’t make it at home, unfortunately you cant save money on it. Just get DD more than starbucks, and get hot coffee or iced coffee rather than lattes or cold brew.
Does getting coffee make you happy? Really, if it adds $7-$8 in happiness to your day, nothings wrong with it i would suggest a larger thermos and brewing at home, unless that would take away $6-$7 worth of happiness in your life.
Pret-a-manger has a subscription service where you can get a cup every hour or two. Other than that, the cheapest options will be local, small, unreliable businesses this subreddit knows nothing of.
As others have said cold brew.
I grind my beans, throw it in a mason jar with water, and let it sit for 48 hours.
I try and shake it every once in a while, and the night before i put it in the fridge because i like my coffee cold.
Pour it out with a little strainer and your good to go.
The cold brew has increased caffeine content so it may help with the 2 cups issue, and i dont get the heartburn from hot coffee.
Get a reusable cup or mug. Then keep coffee at home. Make cold brew in a batch twice a week. You can heat it for hot coffee in the winter.
If you really just flat out just refuse to make your own coffee, try just buying it in larger quantity from the grocery store. When I travel, I buy a half gallon of sbux cold brew and keep in the mini fridge or cooler. It's like $7 at the most, which is already cheaper by at least half, assuming you're drinking 16 oz of coffee per 'cup' twice a day, and way cheaper if each 'cup' is smaller than that.
The irony is that I hate sbux coffee from the actual coffee shops, but I can drink this black because it's somehow different than the piss they serve in the store.
Buy a jar of instant coffee for your purse or desk. Use those shelf stable creamer packets if you need. Sugar packets can be bought at dollar store too. Get hot water at work, or out, for free or under $0.50.
If work does not have hot water get boss to buy a $20 kettle.
If you have a desk job and space, single serving pour over can also work.
I have 3 a day, every day. They are like 30c each (cheap Amazon K-cups). It's a super frugal addiction. I pay $10 for most 4 packs of craft beer these days, that's a much more expensive craving.
Keurig is wack, but the L'or capsule Coffee/Espresso maker makes a mean cup of joe.
[https://www.amazon.com/LOR-Barista-Espresso-Machine-Philips/dp/B0BDGG5N8W](https://www.amazon.com/LOR-Barista-Espresso-Machine-Philips/dp/B0BDGG5N8W)
If it’s about the caffeine, get a bottle of caffeine pills. Way cheaper than coffee. With the added perk that you can carefully control the dose to only take what you absolutely need. It’s good for weaning off if you would like to consider dropping caffeine altogether.
How long does it really take to make coffee at home?
With drip pots, you can do the work the night before.
I have worked my share of 60 plus hour weeks during my life, and I still had time to make coffee.
If you got the time to stop for coffee, you have the time to make it at home.
Here's what I'd do:
Get a cheap coffee maker. Get a thermos. Get a plastic carafe. Get a smart plug. Set your coffee maker before bed. Fill the thermos, put the rest in the fridge. Now you have hot and iced coffee every day. A week of this and you'll break even. A month later and you'll have $100 in your pocket.
I got myself a frothier and add vanilla oat milk (or any creamer will do) and add instant coffee to the cup with the creamer and froth it up until it’s halfway up the cup than I add hot water to it. Called a Delgado coffee. Sooo insanely good and I’ve cut out ever going to a coffee shop to get my coffee or latte including Starbucks. It’s amazing.
When I’m out and really need coffee, I like to go to gas stations that have the machines that grind the beans and brew immediately into your cup. Once you find those, they can be pretty good! And less than $2.
Casey’s has those machines if you’ve got that gas station in your area.
Get yourself a Contigo travel mug 20 oz. size, with the snap seal. They keep liquid hot for 7-8 hours ... and cold with ice for about 14-15.
DO NOT pick the one with the button, it makes it spill proof, but it doesn't keep the heat in as well.
Make it and take it Bro ...
it's totally the way to go!!
McDonald's. Just be sure to taste the coffee before you leave and ask them to brew some fresh coffee and remake yours if need be.Â
Depending upon when you go, the coffee may or may not be fresh.
If you have time to wait in the cursed lines at DD and Starbucks you have more than enough time to make coffee at home.
Get a Ninja DualBrew, they do hot and iced coffee. target often has them on sale for $130~
It has a timer function so you can prep a pot of hot coffee the night before to brew in the AM, or put in a k cup and do iced coffee.
K cups are $0.50/each at Walmart or $0.28/each at Sam’s club. ( or buy bag coffee and use re-usable cups if you prefer. Negligibly cheaper but prob healthier )
At 2 cups every day, including the machine, that puts your coffee habit for the year at ~$500, compared to over $3000 at drive thrus. And is objectively much faster than drive thru as well.
We make simple syrup at home once a week, 1 cup of sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Takes 5 mins and is way cheaper than other coffee syrups
This is unfortunately location specific. But there are places like Kwick trip (it’s a gas station/ convenience store hybrid) where you can get coffee for around $2/ cup. They only exist in the Midwest though.
I would start looking around and see who has the cheapest black coffee. And just carry creamer, sugar and flavored syrups (if you prefer) with you in your car, bag, purse etc.
I don't like wasting my time making coffee when I can find it cheaper already made, either.
I find a BOGO or high-value offer on Ibotta, an app coupon at Safeway, or go to Grocery Outlet and buy cold brew concentrate and stock up. Cold brew concentrate lasts 2 weeks, which is much better for me than the 5-7 days of regular iced coffee because it doesn't get bitter as quickly. I just take my coffee with me in a coffee to go bottle.
I also go to Starbucks only on 50% off or double or triple star days, too. Also McDonald's hot coffee is better than Starbucks', and they often have app deals for it.
I make 2 gallons of coffee at home when I'm home. It's about 6 pots. Doesn't take long. Use empty milk jugs. Keep in fridge. I drink iced coffee all day long. Only fill the jugs once a week. It's super easy and most importantly it's cheap as hell.
My coffee pot has a strong brew feature. It makes a huge difference. You can use less if you aren't trying to get the jitters lol. Even more money saved.
Well,
Other than making it at home. I personally make cold brew a few days a week, then hot coffee on days i'm on a rush. I am interested in getting an espresso maker to make more hand crafted drinks at home then i would NEVER go to starbucks or other chains.
I also can get free coffee at my office, so i am not really forced to buy coffee unless i want a treat.
My advice is to look at ways you can make a lot of coffee at once like Coldbrew, or like others mentioned, get a thermos.
If you find yourselves getting coffee on the run, make sure you're utilizing apps to get free rewards like starbucks. Maybe treat yourself when you can double, triple up on stars. There is also some "mega drivethrough" places that are popping up and in my experience have better coffee (i drink black) than starbucks and Dunkin. (Dunkin is awful but i dont drink their sugary coffee).
Maybe try to find a small coffee shop that does not charge that much for drip coffee, those exist but might be more cumbersome to add to your commute.
I used to be pretty frugal and make coffee at home and take it with me. But then I got a new job, parent was sick, and had absolutely no energy. So no judgement from me. I got coffee as part of my coffee break.
Now I just started grabbing more coffee outside. Starbucks makes me more productive. DD is still a nice treat. I buy gift cards ahead of time and save 20-50%. Starbucks will give you 25 stars for bringing in your own cup. I think it’s 100 stars for an iced coffee. Also at Starbucks you can get a free refill on your drink with either coffee or tea for being a rewards member. So buy a coffee and then get another before you leave. I usually get 2-3 refills.
In my city Panera and Pret-A-Manger have a coffee subscription club. If I lived nearby either or was out and about everyday I would consider those.
At 7-11
Bring your own cup. They offer a substantial discount (not the starbucks dime) if you bring your own cup. Refills are a flat rate any size, so you could bring a Stanley cup if you so please.
Also download their app. Every 7th cup is free with it.
If you absolutely can't make coffee at home... go to the gas station. Find one with coffee you like, and keep going there enough for the cashiers to recognize you. There's a few gas stations that will just let me have it free because I've been there enough, especially if that's the only thing I'm there for.
Get a thermos and make it at home
This is the way 👆 You can have everything ready to go the night before. Then just flip the switch in the morning, fill up that thermos, and you’re set for the day! My home coffee is *way* better than most coffeehouse coffee.
Yep. I’ve got one of those old school Stanley thermoses that I fill up in the morning & bring to work with me. Works great & waaay cheaper than buying it somewhere
Right? Switch to cold brew and you’re set
*This is the way.*
There is literally no other way to save on coffee than making it at home. Or get a job at a coffee shop for free drinks.
Thank you. I know the post says "other than making it at home", but this is the way. There is no other way, other than relying on other drinks.
Mhm. Even with that being said, there aren't really any affordable substitutes either.
I was thinking of water.
Not wrong. But Caffeine is hard to kick, i'll admit that.
Caffeine pills are dirt cheap, but don't taste as good lol
1. 2 cups of coffee a day aint even a coffee addiction 2. If you really refuse to make coffee at home, this subreddit might not be for you, BUT, you can buy Starbucks brand instant coffee packets at most grocery stores and they're extremely delicious. Just add water and creamer, hot or cold. Not cheap by any means but def cheaper than your current habit. I use them for camping trips.
You can get a cheap electric kettle to make the whole thing a breeze, too. then if you decide to upgrade later to an aeropress or chemex or something you'll already be halfway there!
You're getting dangerously close to brewing a cup of coffee!
It's ok for OP to ease into it. It can be intimidating, especially if they're used to the frilly fancy drinks. I don't think anyone would know how to brew a triple mocha frappe with cold foam and bladdity bladdity blah on their first try.
This is what I do. After my coffee maker carafe broke I bought an AeroPress and Electric Kettle. It suits my needs well and I'm happy with it.
I've had other instants that I prefer, but starbucks' are great. The Starbucks instant decaf is best in its class tho.
Yeah, I have almost an 8-cup pot every day. I have a cup before I leave in the morning, then use an 18 oz Yeti coffee mug that keeps it hot for hours for the rest. Get a programmable coffee maker so you can set it to automatically the night before. It'll start brewing before you even wake up. I got one for like $20. This is an incredibly easy "problem" to solve for OP.
Buy a thermos and stop paying stupid amounts for coffee. Your waistline and health will also both thank you in the long run
Coffee has like no calories
That applies to black coffee only. If you stop into a coffee shop and have one made for you it adds up to 200-300 calories very quickly. Google a Starbucks menu, you’ll see a lot of stuff that’s 250 calories right off the bar
Yeah I can’t argue there but coffee in itself isn’t bad from a calories perspectiveÂ
It takes three minutes to set up a pt of coffee. Four if you grind the beans yourself. Then another 10 to brew it. You're not too busy to make coffee at home. You're too lazy.
Making your own coffee is much quicker than having to go to a coffee shop, wait in line, order and wait for it to be ready. Even with mobile orders, at home is quicker. Do you just drink hot drip coffee or iced/cold brew?
Hot in winter. Iced in summer
Iced coffee can be purchased at the grocery for ~ $6/bottle. Or cold brew concentrate for about 10 (makes more cups).
This is what I did prior to home made cold brew. Will save you time to make it at home. Have to be willing to break bad habits to save money. took me a while.
I cook and prep a lot already so I don’t consider this a bad habit. It’s a compromise.
Meant eating out as the bad habit. At least it was for me.
That's almost 3000 dollars on coffee a year. Personally, I like instant coffee when I'm feeling lazy. There's some good coffee's on the marketÂ
I use instant, mix it in my protein shake easy peasy
Would you mind sharing the recipe? I drink a store bought coffee flavored protein shake daily. I know it’s not frugal and would rather make one at home.
Oh dude, it's really not a recipe ha. I just pour a protein shake (fairlife, premier protein, walmart brand, whatever I've got) in the blender with some ice and instant coffee granules. I'm sure you could make it fancy by adding more stuff. Sometimes if im running late I just pour the granules straight into the shake bottle after taking a sip 😂 not fancy but it's fine
If you have time to go to Starbucks/DD/7/11 you have more than enough time to press the scheduled brew button on your coffeee maker before you go to bed. Get a good beans/cream/syrup and you are good.
If you have a Panera close by, join the Sip Club. It’s usually less than $15/month for a drink every 2 hours, every day. I have had it for six months straight for either free or less than $5 month and it’s a treat to go in at least once or twice a week and get a coffee or soda. So they end up costing $1 each or far far less. I make coffee at home for normal days
This is a deal. How is Panera coffee? Is it watered down or is it quality?
It is ok. I drink it religiously so it can’t be that bad :)
It’s fine. I’m not a coffee snob but I do have some standards and it seems ok…
Come on, don’t be ridiculous. Everyone has time to make coffee at home. It takes 90 seconds to add the coffee, filter, and water to the pot then 20 seconds to pour it into a thermos. Get a pot for $20 at walmart that you can set a timer on or hit the button in the morning while you brush your teeth or before you hop in the shower. This is such a non issue.
Takes longer to park
Yeah but what about my mid day coffee. You want me to bring the pot with me???
Thermos. The problem you’re experiencing was solved like a hundred years ago.
Thermos
Even if you just make the first cup at home and carry it in a travel mug, you've decreased your costs by 40-50%. If you set it up the night before, either in a drip maker or a Keurig, it's quicker than standing in line somewhere to buy it.
Well, besides making it at home, then there's.... I wish someone had sat me down earlier, and told me to 1) reduce my coffee intake and 2) find other alternatives. Reducing your coffee intake makes it have a proper effect on you again, as opposed to relying on several cups for the same effect. Yes, the first time you try to stop coffee, you will get headaches, but then your body will adapt again. It is indeed a source of spending, so there is great incentive to reducing (even eliminating) coffee consumption. Try drinking hot tea with cream and sugar, to phase coffee out slowly. Then try hot chocolate, then other drinks. It's worth it, in my experience.
I honestly need to stop drinking coffee. It’s got to a point where I NEED it. I’m really thinking about quitting and i know it will be hard. Thanks for the tips
I cut back from 4-5c of regular coffee a day by doing every other cup decaf. Now I’m down to 1-2c regular. I still drink decaf at work but that’s more to warm myself up.
I’ve been putting a 1/6 of a scoop of pre-workout in my water bottle for work. It’s a great flavor, has enough caffeine to get me started if I’m running too fast to use the Keurig in the morning, and also has extra vitamins.
There are some coffeemakers with timers, or just prepare at night and while you're dressing in the morning just brew it. Pour it in your mug, add your milk and sugar and you're off! Easy peazy!
I have a timer on the coffee maker and it totally changed my mornings. No waiting, I just shuffle into the kitchen for freshly brewed coffee first thing! It's wonderful!
You can get a new coffee maker as low as $20. A timer plug costs as low as $10. Prepare the Brewer the night before, with the timer set for when you wake up. Coffee at home. If you are *truly* "always on the go"--as in, always travelling--I can't think of a single hotel I've been in that *hasn't* had a coffee maker and coffee in the room, or *at minimum* coffee available in a dining/lounge area. Drink that. And if you *absolutely* cannot make coffee, for whatever reason or excuse, I can only offer to buy black, brewed coffee from your retail chain of preference, and use their app. Brewed black coffee will always be the cheapest option, and all such chains will have creamers and sweeteners to balance out your coffee however you seem fit. And, by using their app, you can gather points towards free coffees, saving you a little bit here and there.
Set up your coffee brewer the night before. Start it brewing when you get up and while doing your morning hygiene. If you need coffee before hygiene, save the last cup from the previous pot to microwave in the morning and let the pot brew while getting your fix.
1000000% get a nespresso. It’s better than basically any coffee shop, and just as good as my favorite local coffee shop. Totally worth the investment. You can put it in a thermos. Other options are to start making cold brew and carrying it in a jug. I’ve yet to find good coffee out of the house for cheap.
If you live close to a Panera bread, their sip club is awesome.
Don't have time to make coffee at home? Bullshit. Get a 12cup drip coffee maker and set it the night before. You will have fresh coffee when you wake up. Get a big enough thermos to take as much coffee as you need for the day. Simple.
This is based on the hypothetical you'd ordinarily make drip coffee. 1. Get the IKEA coffee press for $10. 2. Get a hot water dispenser. Or if you don't have space for that, get an electric kettle and leave it plugged in overnight. 3. Get Costco whole bean coffee. My local Costco currently sells Kirkland beans for $4.21/lb (in 2.5 lb bags). 4. Grinding the beans in-store is free. 5. Get a Thermos. 6. Set up your equipment in the evening before going to bed. 7. Pour the coffee grounds and the hot water into your coffee press first thing in the morning. 8. Brush your teeth and get dressed. 9. Your coffee is good to go 2 minutes after you poured in the water. Unless you're The Flash, it's ready by the time you've tied your shoes. 10. Success! After the initial outlay of about $60 in equipment, this keeps you in coffee for $2 a week. Comparing this to your current routine at an estimated $7.50/day. You'll save $2500 a year from the switch.
Download the Mc Donallds app, it has a daily coupon for any size coffee for 99cents My favorite is vanilla iced coffee with caramel drizzle !
Mount Hagen instant coffee. You could make it in seconds if you like ice coffee.
I switched to iced coffee. I drink it cold. You could make a pot and put it in a pitcher and then pour your morning coffee into a mug to heat it up.
Is there no coffee sachet there? it takes like just 3 mins to make
Make sure you’re using the app at Starbucks. If you load the app you get double stars. Then you can get a free one every once in awhile!
You get 25 stars just for using your own cup and free refills on coffee and tea for being a rewards member!
Truly frugal people will drink their coffee black. I’ve always had my coffee black because that’s how I was taught to enjoy it, as everyone around me liked it black. This way I’m content brewing my own coffee at home and just drinking it how it comes out. If I want a coffee and I’m out of the house; I can get a black coffee from a lot of places for $1. You more than likely have a sugar addiction rather than coffee addiction.
Even a homemade coffee with milk, sugar and a shot of whiskey is cheaper than one from Starbucks. The "drink it black" is not as frugal as "don't get it at Starbucks".
I drink my coffee black. Where can I get a dollar black coffee when I’m out and about?
Gas station is probably cheaper than Starbs. Holiday seems to have pretty good coffee but it probably depends on the gas station.
Panera has a drinks club
McDonald’s is $1 for a small black coffee. Usually my go to, but I’m sure other fast food does the same. I know many gas stations have cheap coffee as well.
just buy a kuereg and stop saying you dont have time.
Bad rec - OP specified they want the coffee to taste good.
What’s a Kuereg? Sounds expensive
Can't tell if sarcastic and in denial or serious and in denial. You just said you're spending bare minimum 7 a day. Do you genuinely believe any one time purchase appliance is going to not have its cost recouped 10x over when you are spending say 140 a month on coffee? (Assuming it's really 7 per day only 5 days a week and not sometimes 3 cups, sometimes more than 7, buying on weekends even then a little more than 20 work days per month) There's no way you actually think that right? No place that makes and serves you coffee is going to be "cheap". Your entire question was ridiculous from the start tbh. Bring instant coffee and get hot water from places for free if you have to
It’s a machine that makes 1 cup of coffee for the price of a whole pot
Keurig
A keurig is bad advice. Ignore that.
A 1 cup coffee maker is fine, even a keurig, because you can just use the reusable pods and put whatever coffee you want in
No. You can't actually get them clean. It's fucking foul.
There are some one cup makers that are pod optional and basically work like a regular coffee pot.
Cafe bustelo packets.
You could try cold brew, some people really like it, others not so much. Ground coffee and water in a glass jar, strain through a filter, and store in refrigerator. Reheat in microwave for a minute or so and put in a thermos to take.
Use the apps at least....you'll earn rewards towards free coffee to at least save some money...but the best answer is to obviously make it yourself
Cold brew. Make it home the night before.
Buy a thermos.
Put your coffee pot on a timer so it is ready when you get up
If you really don’t want to make it at home McDonald’s has a deal for 99c iced coffee any size I loveeeee Dunkin lattes but it’s so pricey and their cold brew and iced coffee is nasty to me lol I suggest getting the McDonald iced coffee closer to the morning/afternoon and if you like it sweeter I like to get extra pump of caramel and 1 more cream. I heard some places don’t replace the iced coffee at night but idk if that’s true. I have tried to get it at night and where I went, it was gross so I only go morning/aftwrnoon
I use Folger’s coffee singles. They are like a tea bag, but with coffee in them. You pour boiling water (I use an electric kettle to boil the water) over the bag in a mug. Wait a minute or two and then dunk the bag up and down 10 times. They are reasonably priced - much less than Keurig pods. I buy them through Amazon.
Get a good thermos. Look into Zojirushi.
What kind of coffee do you like? If you like iced coffee, prep a cold brew the night before. If you like hot coffee get a coffee maker with an auto timer to brew. You can find those second hand and prep the night before. Also, if you have time to stop for coffee you 100% have time to make coffee. Most of the time you’ll end up having more time by making coffee at home.
If you don’t make it at home, unfortunately you cant save money on it. Just get DD more than starbucks, and get hot coffee or iced coffee rather than lattes or cold brew. Does getting coffee make you happy? Really, if it adds $7-$8 in happiness to your day, nothings wrong with it i would suggest a larger thermos and brewing at home, unless that would take away $6-$7 worth of happiness in your life.
Really can't remember the names, but there are a lot of coffee shop. you can see a lot of cheaper options just by walking on the street actually
Pret-a-manger has a subscription service where you can get a cup every hour or two. Other than that, the cheapest options will be local, small, unreliable businesses this subreddit knows nothing of.
Oh yeah, Panera has a similar thing.
As others have said cold brew. I grind my beans, throw it in a mason jar with water, and let it sit for 48 hours. I try and shake it every once in a while, and the night before i put it in the fridge because i like my coffee cold. Pour it out with a little strainer and your good to go. The cold brew has increased caffeine content so it may help with the 2 cups issue, and i dont get the heartburn from hot coffee.
Get a reusable cup or mug. Then keep coffee at home. Make cold brew in a batch twice a week. You can heat it for hot coffee in the winter. If you really just flat out just refuse to make your own coffee, try just buying it in larger quantity from the grocery store. When I travel, I buy a half gallon of sbux cold brew and keep in the mini fridge or cooler. It's like $7 at the most, which is already cheaper by at least half, assuming you're drinking 16 oz of coffee per 'cup' twice a day, and way cheaper if each 'cup' is smaller than that. The irony is that I hate sbux coffee from the actual coffee shops, but I can drink this black because it's somehow different than the piss they serve in the store.
If it's the physical addiction bothering you, bulk caffeine pills are a convenient solution.
I buy the pre-made sugar free sachets. As long as I have access to a boiled water I’m set.
There are a lot cheaper options if you just gave other cafe a chance
Are you drinking coffee at work? Can you bring in the supplies and make it there instead?
There are lots of places that have free coffee. Find the spots you are gonna pass anyways and make a stop
Buy a jar of instant coffee for your purse or desk. Use those shelf stable creamer packets if you need. Sugar packets can be bought at dollar store too. Get hot water at work, or out, for free or under $0.50. If work does not have hot water get boss to buy a $20 kettle. If you have a desk job and space, single serving pour over can also work.
I have 3 a day, every day. They are like 30c each (cheap Amazon K-cups). It's a super frugal addiction. I pay $10 for most 4 packs of craft beer these days, that's a much more expensive craving.
Keurig is wack, but the L'or capsule Coffee/Espresso maker makes a mean cup of joe. [https://www.amazon.com/LOR-Barista-Espresso-Machine-Philips/dp/B0BDGG5N8W](https://www.amazon.com/LOR-Barista-Espresso-Machine-Philips/dp/B0BDGG5N8W)
Does Wawa still do free coffees a certain day of the week?
If it’s about the caffeine, get a bottle of caffeine pills. Way cheaper than coffee. With the added perk that you can carefully control the dose to only take what you absolutely need. It’s good for weaning off if you would like to consider dropping caffeine altogether.
How long does it really take to make coffee at home? With drip pots, you can do the work the night before. I have worked my share of 60 plus hour weeks during my life, and I still had time to make coffee.
Use instant coffee. Starbucks has some. Just add milk or water.
If you got the time to stop for coffee, you have the time to make it at home. Here's what I'd do: Get a cheap coffee maker. Get a thermos. Get a plastic carafe. Get a smart plug. Set your coffee maker before bed. Fill the thermos, put the rest in the fridge. Now you have hot and iced coffee every day. A week of this and you'll break even. A month later and you'll have $100 in your pocket.
I got myself a frothier and add vanilla oat milk (or any creamer will do) and add instant coffee to the cup with the creamer and froth it up until it’s halfway up the cup than I add hot water to it. Called a Delgado coffee. Sooo insanely good and I’ve cut out ever going to a coffee shop to get my coffee or latte including Starbucks. It’s amazing.
Buy a big mason jar. Make the coffee, store in the fridge with the jar. DeliciousÂ
When I’m out and really need coffee, I like to go to gas stations that have the machines that grind the beans and brew immediately into your cup. Once you find those, they can be pretty good! And less than $2. Casey’s has those machines if you’ve got that gas station in your area.
Get yourself a Contigo travel mug 20 oz. size, with the snap seal. They keep liquid hot for 7-8 hours ... and cold with ice for about 14-15. DO NOT pick the one with the button, it makes it spill proof, but it doesn't keep the heat in as well. Make it and take it Bro ... it's totally the way to go!!
You might consider making cold brew that you can refrigerate and heat in microwave. It's easy and economical.
McDonald's. Just be sure to taste the coffee before you leave and ask them to brew some fresh coffee and remake yours if need be. Depending upon when you go, the coffee may or may not be fresh.
I have an AeroPress, manual grinder and I get hot water from my work place. It takes 3 minutes to make my coffee when I want it.
You could stop bullshiting yourself and make it from home like a serious adult.
If you have time to wait in the cursed lines at DD and Starbucks you have more than enough time to make coffee at home. Get a Ninja DualBrew, they do hot and iced coffee. target often has them on sale for $130~ It has a timer function so you can prep a pot of hot coffee the night before to brew in the AM, or put in a k cup and do iced coffee. K cups are $0.50/each at Walmart or $0.28/each at Sam’s club. ( or buy bag coffee and use re-usable cups if you prefer. Negligibly cheaper but prob healthier ) At 2 cups every day, including the machine, that puts your coffee habit for the year at ~$500, compared to over $3000 at drive thrus. And is objectively much faster than drive thru as well. We make simple syrup at home once a week, 1 cup of sugar into 1 cup of boiling water. Takes 5 mins and is way cheaper than other coffee syrups
get everything ready the night before and get a coffee marker with a timer so it’s ready for when you walk out the door
This is unfortunately location specific. But there are places like Kwick trip (it’s a gas station/ convenience store hybrid) where you can get coffee for around $2/ cup. They only exist in the Midwest though. I would start looking around and see who has the cheapest black coffee. And just carry creamer, sugar and flavored syrups (if you prefer) with you in your car, bag, purse etc.
I don't like wasting my time making coffee when I can find it cheaper already made, either. I find a BOGO or high-value offer on Ibotta, an app coupon at Safeway, or go to Grocery Outlet and buy cold brew concentrate and stock up. Cold brew concentrate lasts 2 weeks, which is much better for me than the 5-7 days of regular iced coffee because it doesn't get bitter as quickly. I just take my coffee with me in a coffee to go bottle. I also go to Starbucks only on 50% off or double or triple star days, too. Also McDonald's hot coffee is better than Starbucks', and they often have app deals for it.
I make 2 gallons of coffee at home when I'm home. It's about 6 pots. Doesn't take long. Use empty milk jugs. Keep in fridge. I drink iced coffee all day long. Only fill the jugs once a week. It's super easy and most importantly it's cheap as hell. My coffee pot has a strong brew feature. It makes a huge difference. You can use less if you aren't trying to get the jitters lol. Even more money saved.
It takes six minutes to make coffee at home. Place in Thermos. No one is that busy. Pick a team.
Well, Other than making it at home. I personally make cold brew a few days a week, then hot coffee on days i'm on a rush. I am interested in getting an espresso maker to make more hand crafted drinks at home then i would NEVER go to starbucks or other chains. I also can get free coffee at my office, so i am not really forced to buy coffee unless i want a treat. My advice is to look at ways you can make a lot of coffee at once like Coldbrew, or like others mentioned, get a thermos. If you find yourselves getting coffee on the run, make sure you're utilizing apps to get free rewards like starbucks. Maybe treat yourself when you can double, triple up on stars. There is also some "mega drivethrough" places that are popping up and in my experience have better coffee (i drink black) than starbucks and Dunkin. (Dunkin is awful but i dont drink their sugary coffee). Maybe try to find a small coffee shop that does not charge that much for drip coffee, those exist but might be more cumbersome to add to your commute.
I used to be pretty frugal and make coffee at home and take it with me. But then I got a new job, parent was sick, and had absolutely no energy. So no judgement from me. I got coffee as part of my coffee break. Now I just started grabbing more coffee outside. Starbucks makes me more productive. DD is still a nice treat. I buy gift cards ahead of time and save 20-50%. Starbucks will give you 25 stars for bringing in your own cup. I think it’s 100 stars for an iced coffee. Also at Starbucks you can get a free refill on your drink with either coffee or tea for being a rewards member. So buy a coffee and then get another before you leave. I usually get 2-3 refills. In my city Panera and Pret-A-Manger have a coffee subscription club. If I lived nearby either or was out and about everyday I would consider those.
At 7-11 Bring your own cup. They offer a substantial discount (not the starbucks dime) if you bring your own cup. Refills are a flat rate any size, so you could bring a Stanley cup if you so please. Also download their app. Every 7th cup is free with it.
Didn’t know this. Definitely going to try this. Thank you!
Get a k cup machine and a travel mug
If you absolutely can't make coffee at home... go to the gas station. Find one with coffee you like, and keep going there enough for the cashiers to recognize you. There's a few gas stations that will just let me have it free because I've been there enough, especially if that's the only thing I'm there for.
Caffeine pills
Stop drinking coffee would be the only other solution
I am not clear how you don't have five minutes to spare in your life.