It’s okay to admit it – you probably spend more money on coffee than you should.
But that’s okay! I won’t shame you about your coffee habit but instead you’ll learn a few ways to save extra cash if you’re feeling creative.
In this post, I’ll explore how you can save money on coffee at home and how to save money on coffee at the coffee shop. Let’s get started!
How to Save Money on Coffee at Home
Below are some simple tips you can use to save money on coffee made at home! There are many methods to save extra money brewing coffee at home, so what’re you waiting for?
Buy Affordable Coffee Beans
There’s a good chance your coffee beans will be the most expensive part of your brewing process. When you buy coffee, try to find more affordable options instead of the most expensive beans.
Finding cheap coffee beans is easier than you think. I recommend visiting your local coffee shop to see if you can purchase fresh coffee beans at a discount. You might be surprised how many coffee shops are willing to sell their beans at a discount.
Another option is to wait for beans to go on sale at your local grocery store. This might mean waiting for a week or so, but it will help you save your hard-earned money.
Buy in Bulk
Another option when it comes to saving money on your beans is buying whole beans in bulk and grinding them when it’s time to make your own coffee.
The main downside of doing this is the freshness of your beans. Storing them in the right containers without sun exposure can certainly help, but only to a certain extent.
Depending on how often you brew a cup of coffee, buying in bulk could be a good way to save money on each cup.
If you have a membership to a local bulk grocery club like Sams or Costco, see what kind of coffee deals they have.
Buy Cheap Creamer
Coffee creamer is another culprit that can make your homemade coffee more expensive. There are many types of coffee creamer to build your perfect cup of coffee – but these can add up with every cup you make.
Instead of purchasing premium coffee creamer, consider cheaper options like store brand or just plain milk. You might sacrifice some taste here, but it’s worth it to save your money.
Shop for Coffee Online
When buying coffee be sure to check online to find a better price.
Many online stores offer discounted coffee so you can save money and make great coffee at the same time.
When you buy beans, be sure to look for:
- Date of packaging (to ensure freshness)
- Type of coffee roast
- Weight of the beans
It’s possible to save anywhere from 20% or more when buying coffee online. Many sites will offer whole or ground beans depending on your preference.
Limit Coffee Waste
Waste is a part of our daily lives and is even present with our coffee addiction.
With every pot of coffee you make, there’s a good chance some of it might go to waste. Instead, try making only the amount of coffee you will drink.
If you do have leftover, consider saving it for later.
Make Coffee Ice Cubes
If you do have leftover coffee, consider turning it into coffee ice cubes you can use to make an iced latte or other cold coffee drink.
Making coffee ice cubes is fairly simple. Just fill your ice tray with leftover coffee and allow to freeze overnight.
Whenever you want to make cold coffee drinks, just put a few coffee cubes in your drink and enjoy.
Use Cheap Milk
Coffee creamers can be really expensive, so consider finding a cheap alternative instead.
By using your own milk instead of creamer, you can save good money over the course of the year. To save even more, be sure to use a cashback app at your grocery store to earn additional rewards.
Use Cashback Apps
Using cashback apps like Ibotta can save you money on each visit to your grocery store. If you buy coffee grounds and creamers at the grocery, this is free money you’re missing out on. Check with your app to ensure your grocery store is offering the savings – but many popular groceries are!
Make Your Own Creamer
Making your own creamer can be a cost-effective way to spruce up your next cup of joe.
In order to make your own milk or creamer, you’ll need to combine a few ingredients including milk or cream, flavorings, and any sweeteners you prefer. Mix them together and enjoy.
Store Coffee Beans Correctly
By storing your fresh coffee beans correctly, you can ensure your beans stay fresh and last longer. To keep your beans fresh, use an airtight container to store them. This will help to limit the waste of spoiled coffee beans.
Grind Your Own Coffee Beans
If you purchase coffee at a grocery, there’s a good chance you’ll pay a premium for ground coffee.
Instead, buy whole beans and grind them yourself to save money. Even if it’s not reflected directly in the price, you’ll receive less when you buy ground coffee.
Another benefit of grinding your coffee is that your cup of coffee will taste better when using freshly ground beans.
Drink Black Coffee
Drinking coffee black is one of the easiest ways to save money on your next cup of coffee.
Instead of using harmful additives like extra syrup and creamers, drinking black coffee can save you some serious cash and help you live a more healthy lifestyle.
Invest in a Coffee Maker
Avoiding coffee shops is one of the most obvious ways to save money on your coffee habit.
To do this, you’ll need to invest in some coffee equipment including a coffee maker and grinder.
Depending on the type of coffee you plan to make, these items can be extremely affordable. If you plan to make more specialty drinks like making your own latte or other espresso drinks, you might need a more expensive machine and possibly a milk frother.
If you’re looking to save money on your equipment, consider buying used to keep more money in your bank account.
Purchase Reusable Coffee Filters
If your coffee maker requires a filter, try finding reusable coffee filters so you can brew your next cup of coffee without spending more money.
These can be made from stainless steel or other materials and are often inexpensive to purchase.
Buy Reusable K Cups
If you own a Keurig coffee maker, purchasing a reusable k cup can save you money and help reduce waste.
Instead of throwing out used k cups every time, you can refill these reusable cups to enjoy your favorite coffee with fresh coffee grounds.
Be sure to purchase one designed for your specific model of Keurig machine.
Save Leftover Coffee
While leftover coffee might not taste quite as good as a fresh cup – it can be a simple way to save money on your coffee addiction.
Instead of throwing out the leftovers, pour your coffee into a sealable container and stick it in your fridge until you’re ready to use it.
Most times, leftover coffee will last for a good amount of time in the fridge so you don’t have to worry about wasting any coffee.
Stop Drinking Coffee Altogether
Kicking your daily habit of drinking coffee is an excellent way to save money each month, although it will require some serious dedication.
Consider switching to water or tea to ditch your coffee habits one cup at a time.
Use a French Press to Save Money
Using a french press can be a good way to save money when compared to some other coffee-making techniques. Because a french press only requires coffee grounds and hot water, you won’t have to waste money on coffee filters or other expenses when you brew coffee.
How to Save Money on Coffee at the Coffeeshop
Below are some tips to help you spend less on your next trip to the coffee shop!
Budget for Your Visits
If you want to keep supporting local businesses, budgeting your coffee trips can be a good way to ensure you don’t go overboard with your coffee habit.
Give yourself a set amount of cash each month to spend at the coffee shop and try to avoid going over the amount. This will keep both your finances and coffee addiction in check.
Opt for Less Expensive Drinks
If you aren’t already aware, not every cup of joe will cost the same.
For example, those that require oat milk or specialty coffee additives will cost much more than a normal cup of coffee.
Instead of purchasing the more expensive drink options, choose a more standard cup of coffee to save money.
Use Loyalty Programs
Depending on the coffee shop you visit, you might be able to take advantage of a loyalty program to earn free coffee.
Many popular shops offer a loyalty program allowing you to earn rewards whenever you buy coffee.
While the amount you earn might not seem like a lot at once, it can add up over the course of a year.
Visit During Happy Hour
Certain stores might have a happy hour during which you can save money on some of your favorite drinks. Coffee apps will offer special discounts on drinks like an iced latte, a double shot of espresso, or a drink of your own combination.
Buy Giftcards at a Discount
If you have a favorite coffee shop, consider purchasing gift cards at a discount to save money. You can often find gift cards to places like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and others for as much as 10% to 20% off.
Take Advantage of Credit Card Offers
Many credit card issuers now offer special deals that you can use to save money. While these offers might not seem like a big deal, even 10% can add up for many coffee drinkers. Search your card to find these offers and start earning.
Use Credit Card Rewards
In addition to any “deals” you might find on your credit card for local stores, you can also rack up rewards points that can be redeemed for free coffee. While these rewards might only be a few percentages, they can add up to a few cups of free coffee over the year.
Order a Smaller Coffee
This is an obvious method – but ordering a smaller-sized drink can be a simple way to save some extra cash on your next trip to the coffee shop.
Larger-sized coffee drinks tend to only be slightly more expensive, however. If you’re searching for the cheapest price per ounce of coffee – larger drinks are the way to go.
Claim Free Refills
Many coffee shops will offer free refills on black coffee or similar coffee drinks.
By claiming your free refill, you can save money on hot coffee each time you visit the store. Be sure to check with your store as many times these offerings are not advertised.
Use Your Own Mug
Some local businesses will fill your own mug up no matter the size. This is a good way to get a large cup of coffee for a good price.
Ditch Iced Coffees
If you order iced coffee drinks the amount of actual coffee you will receive is less because of the volume of ice in your cup.
In addition to the smaller amount of coffee, when the ice melts – the flavor of your drink can be less than desirable.
Instead, order a hot coffee to get the most coffee for your money.
Final Thoughts on Saving Money on Coffee
There are plenty of methods you can use to save money on coffee at home or at your local coffee shop.
Between purchasing less expensive coffee beans, avoiding pricy coffee additives and syrups, and using loyalty programs at your favorite shops – there are many easy steps so you can start saving money whenever you drink coffee.
What’re you waiting for? Start saving money on your caffiene addiction!
