Coffee is an important part of my daily routine, and since you’re reading this I assume it is just as important for you too. There is a lot of chaos and noise in parenting toddlers, so I love to enjoy my moment of quiet with a cup of coffee in hand. The cost of our love for coffee can add up over time, especially if you frequent the coffee shop. Don’t misunderstand, I know that that coffee shop visit is sometimes the little luxury that you need, and that’s fine! But my budget doesn’t allow for those daily coffee shop runs that my coworkers all make. If you are missing that perfect coffee from the coffee shop or you’re just looking for ways to reduce your grocery budget, here’s how you can save money on coffee and still enjoy a great-tasting cup of coffee at home.
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Save on Coffee Beans
If you’re looking to save by making the coffee at home, one of the main things to consider is how to get the best deal on coffee beans.
Buy in Bulk and Freeze
Like most things, if you find a good deal on coffee beans, you could buy in bulk and freeze them. To a true coffee enthusiast, this is definitely not an acceptable way to make your coffee at home. This strategy will help you save money, but you will be sacrificing some of the flavor of the coffee. If that doesn’t bother you, then don’t worry about what those coffee enthusiasts think. Go ahead and freeze that coffee. I’ve done it at times, particularly with a flavored coffee. I liked a certain brand of peppermint mocha coffee that was seasonal, and so I stocked up. Believe me, that peppermint flavor was plenty strong even after being frozen and stored for a few months.
Roast Your Own Coffee Beans
There are 2 decent, budget-friendly options you could get started with. This is an air roaster that costs about $90, and it makes the coffee roasting process very easy. Another affordable option is this coffee roaster that allows you to roast more coffee beans at a time. It holds 750 grams! Being able to roast a large amount of coffee at once is important to me as a busy parent.
Is roasting your own coffee beans cheaper?
It can be, but shop smart. You can buy online or you may be able to talk to a local coffee roaster and buy some green coffee beans from them. They can likely give you the best deal, as they can get better prices by buying in bulk. Just be aware that green coffee beans will lose weight when roasted due to water loss. This means that buying 1 pound of green coffee beans is similar to buying 1/2 pound of roasted coffee beans.
Coffee Grinder
Even if you aren’t ready to start roasting your own coffee beans, a coffee grinder may still be worth the investment for making your coffee at home. Coffee grinders can be relatively inexpensive for something basic. This coffee grinder was rated Best Value by Good Housekeeping, and it’s only $25.
Why use a coffee grinder?
The biggest benefit of the coffee grinder is that you can get the best flavor from your coffee when it is freshly ground. Once coffee beans are ground, their oils are exposed to air and moisture. This degrades the flavor of the coffee. With pre-ground coffee, you have less flavor and may need to use more coffee grounds to the the desired flavor.
With a coffee grinder, you can also get the right coarseness or fineness of the grind for the method you use to make your coffee. A coarse grind is the best when you are using a french press. I love making my coffee with the french press. I use this metal french press after a bad experience breaking a glass one in the past. On the other hand, a fine grind is what you need for espresso. With a coffee grinder, you can get the most out of your coffee grounds by having the right coarseness or fineness for your brewing method.
Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Now that you have your coffee beans, it’s time to make your favorite coffee. First, you need to learn what goes into you favorite specialty coffee and what equipment or ingredients you need to make it. If you like a cappuccino, you need espresso, steamed milk, and foam. For an Americano, it’s espresso and water.
Methods for Making Espresso
Many of our favorite coffee beverages need espresso. Espresso machines can be expensive, but there are some other options you could use. First, you could use a Moka pot like this one. An Aeropress is also a fabulous option. While it doesn’t make a true espresso, it can get pretty close. We like the Aeropress for when we’re traveling. We love to camp, and with an Aeropress it’s easy to use and doesn’t take up much space. For instructions on how to make an espresso with an Aeropress, check out the Coffee Chronicler.
Making a Cold Brew
Another favorite of mine in cold brew. It is so simple to make a home. I use my French press to make cold brew. As with anytime you use a French press, a courser grind of coffee is best. Add your coffee grounds, pour cold water on top, then put the lid on without pushing down the plunger. I like to make my cold brew on the counter, so that if I make it overnight it is ready in the morning (about 8 hours). But if you like, you can also make it in the fridge, taking 12-24 hours to be ready. Once it’s ready, push down the plunger and your cold brew coffee is ready!
Making Steamed Milk and Frothed Milk
Make or Buy Flavor Syrups
Make Your Own Coffee Creamer
Homemade coffee creamer is simple to make, and does help you save a bit of money over time. I like to make a large batch, and then freeze some in ice cubes. It lasts longer, and I like to use ice cubes with my hot coffee because I do not like to wait! I’m always burning my tongue! So if you’re impatient like me, freezing your creamer may be just what you need.
I’ve tried a few coffee creamer recipes, and many are essentially sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream or half and half. Those are alright, but they just don’t taste as good to me as a store-bought creamer. Then I stumbled upon a recipe made with brown sugar. I loved the flavor of brown sugar, and adapted the recipe to be creamier and require less cooking time. Here’s the coffee creamer recipe I like to make, especially with a bit of chocolate syrup mixed in. Yum!
Now, after all this talk about coffee, it’s time to go make myself a cup and enjoy a quiet moment with a latte before my son wakes up! I hope you all get a calm moment with that perfect cup of coffee today too!
For more ideas, check out my Money-Saving Recipes!
Homemade Coffee Creamer
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups half-and-half
Optional ingredients
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract for a vanilla coffee creamer
- 2 Tablespoons chocolate syrup for a chocolate coffee creamer
Instructions
- Combine milk and brown sugar in a saucepan
- Heat on the lowest setting, stirring only brown sugar is dissolved.
- After sugar is dissolved, leave milk and sugar on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not stir.
- Remove milk from heat, and skim off any milk foam or "skin" on top
- Allow to cool, and combine with half-and-half
- Add optional ingredients if desired for flavored coffee creamer
