A wise man once said, “Behind every successful person is a substantial amount of coffee.” Now there are many nicknames for coffee whether it be joe, java, daily grind, brain juice, rocket fuel or whatever your name for it is, coffee is a vital and necessary asset in the workplace.
We here in the America consume more than 3 billion pounds of coffee every year, according to researchers at CouponBox.com. That amount is proportionate to 2,854 Airbus A380 airplanes or 15 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
Consuming those immense quantities of coffee beans comes at a high scot. In America, we spend upwards of $30 billion on coffee each year. That figure is gathered from the amount of coffee we brew at home and substantial amount of money we throw at our local Starbucks or coffee shop.
Sure, abandoning your daily caffeine fix will save you some money, but is it really worth it? Luckily, there are tons of strategies that will give both you and your budget a boost while helping you keep your sanity.
At-home Coffee Hacks
- gGrind your beans before preparing a cup. Coffee loses most of its flavor when it’s been roasted, and grinding will speed up the process.
- Using an AeroPress is a convenient, inexpensive way to make an Americano or espresso coffee.
- AeroPress paper filters can be rinsed and reused with no negative effect on the quality of your coffee.
- Your water used should be at 175° F and filtered. This will make better coffee and encourage you to make your own cup each day, saving money.
- The fridge is the enemy of coffee. Store coffee in an air-tight container (preferably glass) in the freezer.
- A hand-crank grinder is inexpensive and will do the job for a good homemade java.
- Cold brew is the latest thing. Simply soak ground coffee beans in water overnight, and then strain out the grounds. Change things up and drink something cold.
Coffee Shop Hacks
- Shop around. Just because a coffee store’s product is expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best.
- Try buying a double shot espresso and adding your own milk at the condiments bar, or an iced latte with “extra syrup” instead of a more expensive Frappuccino.
- Buying Fair Trade coffee means you are helping provide a decent wage for hard-working coffee farmers.
- If you bring your own mug or cup, sometimes you can get a small discount.
- If you are with friends, Starbucks can brew a fresh French Pressyou can share (and share the cost).
- There are lots of discounted gift cards on sites such as eBay, which can shave dollars from your coffee habit.
- Order a “short” espresso instead of “tall” to get the same amount of kick for 80 cents less.
- Apps such as CoffeeGuru are available that can guide you to the best-tasting and most-affordable coffee deals in your local area.
