StarBucks -vs- StarPennies
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cup of Pike Place Roast in the morning, as much as the next gal. However, the economy is crappy, gas is pricey and stops for gourmet coffee are not an option. Does that mean that you cannot have your gourmet coffee, at all? Nope! You can have all of the gourmet, right in the comfort of your own home, while saving money.
Buy whole coffee beans. You get more for your money and the taste is a world of difference, compared to already ground coffee. Buy a cheap grinder, if you do not own one. It will pay for itself after a few pots. Grind your beans. Buy the espresso beans. They cost the same and provide a richer flavor. For espresso based drinks, use less water than you would for a regular cup of coffee. Invest in some flavored syrup, found in the coffee aisle of the grocery store. It will last for a month or longer and costs pennies per pump. Buy whipping cream by the quart and use it for espresso drinks.
Brew up the espresso beans. Add a few shots to a mixture of half cream and half milk. Stir in the flavored syrup or make simple syrup (a combination of 2 parts sugar, 1 part water,) to your liking. You can also whip the cream yourself and add some sugar to make whipped cream. It can be kept in a Ziploc baggies for later use and tastes heavenly,
Making your own cup of gourmet coffee is a lot easier than you may think and saves a few “bucks” every day! Share your favorite coffee recipes in the comment section.
Tags: beverages, coffee, food, saving-money, StarbucksRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Doing it Yourself, Frugal Gourmet
7 opinions for StarBucks -vs- StarPennies
MEllybook
Jul 22, 2008 at 5:18 pm
espresso romano, which is a simple sugared espresso with a slice of lemon, really surprising.
Jenn @ Frugal Upstate
Jul 22, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Great ideas! I like coffee, but haven’t bought the froofy ones regularly for a few years now. Occasionally, while on a trip etc I’ll splurge.
If a person is even more ambitious, there are lots of recipes out there to make your own flavored creamer.
ageekymom
Jul 22, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I highly recommend javajuice.com for packets of coffee extract. Just add to hot water for a delicious cup of coffee. (I am not associated with javajuice in any way) I also like to mix it with sweetened cocoa and hot milk for a fabulous mocha latte.
I travel with javajuice and a bag of sugar and powdered milk for a cheap alternative to buying at the hotel coffee shop.
You can also use it in recipes that call for coffee.
Thrifty Karen
Jul 23, 2008 at 6:51 am
Funny that you’re writing about coffee. I have a post about saving on coffee preposted for Friday.
Great tips!
Thrifty Karen
Jul 23, 2008 at 6:53 am
P.S. We used to call Starbucks “Four Bucks”, but since prices are higher, we’ll have to start calliing it “Five Bucks”.
Nicole J.
Jul 23, 2008 at 6:20 pm
we have been buying beans and grinding our own for years. It’s cheaper and way more delicious. Recently we have found a local roaster that sells Mexican Fair Trade Organic beans for $8.50 a pound. I balked at the price at first, but then looked at the grocery store and found the price is right for some great coffee. At Starbucks (when I actually go) I get brewed or iced tea. It’s cheap, refreshing and still feels like a splurge.
Shannyn
Jul 31, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I was given a coffee bean grinder for Christmas and I love it. I can get a variety of beans that stay fresh and the noise and smell really wake me up in the morning. It has saved me money and I can get fair trade coffee cheap!
Pick up some coffeemate in fun flavors and it really can taste good too- Pumpkin Spice, Creme Brulee and others are great!
If you get a travel mug, you’ll be all set to be frugal on the run.
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