Inflation 101: How to Drink Coffee More Affordably?
With the prices of everything on the rise and economic instability, you may need to find a few new ways to decrease the price of your coffee during inflation.
Your daily coffee now costs much more than it used to. Especially if you get your coffee from a coffee shop. According to one research, the cost of a simple cup of coffee in the U.S. can range anywhere from $1.38 to $3.46
But, coffee at home can be costly as well. According to information compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and posted on Mashed, the average price of a pound of coffee grounds in U.S. cities rose from $4.17 in October of 2019 to $5.79 in June of 2022, representing an increase of 38.8%.
To help you save on your daily cup of joe, we gathered some tips and tricks for how you can make your cup of coffee more affordable.
Cheapest Way to Make Coffee
There are a few ways to make your coffee more affordable that are easy for everyone to get the hang of. You might have heard of these options but not realize they're easier on your budget.
1. The Pour-Over Method
The intense, flavorful coffee that can be produced with the pour-over method is largely responsible for the recent surge in popularity of this brewing technique. Pour-over is also one of the most cost-effective brewing methods, and it requires very little initial investment to get started if you use a manual pour over device.
The final taste of your coffee will depend on several components such as the water you’re using, the ratio of grounds to water, and the type of coffee you are using. To make coffee using this method, simply add coarse ground coffee to filter, pour a small amount of water in a circular motion over the ground coffee until soaked then add the remaining water and let drip.
How much?
A Bodum manual pour over coffee maker - $22 initial investment. This device should work well for about a year of daily usage, before you'll need to replace the plastic filter or not being able to clean it as much as you'd like.
With the Bodum device you won't need to use paper filters, but if your coffeemaker requires them, filters can cost about $14.99 for 300 unbleached coffee filters.
According to this research the average cost of a cup of this coffee made at home is $0.74.
Total: About $22 initial investment + about $0.74 per serving for a basic ground coffee. If you'll need to buy paper filters, add another $0.05 per serving. This price, or all the other price in our article don't include creamers, milk or sugar which might add about $0.5 per serving.
2. AeroPress
AeroPress is another excellent method that can be utilized in order to prepare your recession coffee. It is more expensive than pour-over cones, but its all-in-one method might entice you more than the cone and filter method.
When you purchase an AeroPress, the package that it comes in has everything you need to get started using it to make coffee. Because of this, you won't need to make an immediate purchase of additional filters, and as a result, the pricing is a more accurate representation of the whole cost of getting started.
Another perk is that this device is capable of producing the widest variety of coffee beverages, including a drink that is quite similar to espresso.
How much?
An AeroPress coffeemaker- $39.99 initial investment. No paper filters are required for this device as well.
$0.74 per serving, following the same cost per serving as the previous example.
Total: About $39.99 initial investment + about $0.24 per serving for a basic ground coffee.
3. Quality Instant Coffee
Probably the most affordable and easy to switch-to option is instant coffee. With instant coffee you don't need to buy any additional tools or equipment, so no initial investments are required.
Instant coffee can help you make some of your favorite coffee drinks easily as home. All you need to do is pour your instant coffee into a cup, top with hot or iced water and stir. This is also the quickest option on this list.
Same as with other coffee options, make sure to buy quality instant coffee that is made with high quality coffee beans like Waka.
How much?
Initial investment - $0. You can heat water on stove, in an electric kettle if you have one, or even in the microwave.
Waka's 8 oz bulk bag medium roast of Papua New Guinean instant coffee will cost $27.99 on sale. This yields a $0.35 per serving for 80 servings.
Total: About $0.35-$0.45 per serving depending on the product and offer. If you take into account the time saved on making your cup of coffee and the time of cleaning your tools, you can see even a larger savings and efficiency.
In addition, it's easier to mess up your water to coffee ratio with ground coffee, which you don't need to worry as much with instant coffee. This can eliminate another way of reducing waste on unpleasant batches of coffee.
4. The French Press
A French Press, like an AeroPress or drip coffee requires an initial investment in a device, but it's still quite inexpensive in general. With a built-in filter, which is often made of stainless steel, it eliminates the need to purchase additional filters. The French Press is reliable, durable, and stands the test of time.
Coffee prepared using a French Press presents a unique challenge, though. It's not as easy as the other methods. The degree in which your coffee is ground has a huge impact on how many flavor compounds are released into your brew. Making coffee using a French Press requires that your coffee is coarse ground. Coarse ground has distinct, chunky, pieces of coffee beans, somewhat similar to heavy kosher salt.
How much?
Utopia Kitchen 34 Ounce French Press will cost you $16.99 as an initial investment.
A popular French Press Specialty Coffee, Coarse Ground on Amazon will cost you $12.49 for 340 grams (12 oz). Using 10.6 grams per recommended serving, it should yield about 15 servings or $0.39 per serving of 12 fl oz of coffee.
Total: $16.99 to buy an affordable French Press and about $0.39 per serving of ground coffee.
5. Automatic Drip Machine
When most people think of brewing coffee at home, the first thing that comes to mind is the coffee maker that sits on their countertops. The cost of these machines can range widely.
If you prefer a brewing method that does not require your participation or spending money at coffee shops, our advice is that you invest in a low-cost automatic drip machine. Things to note, though, are that automatic drip machines may not be as reliable as the methods listed above. This means you might replace it more often, and it won't be as much of a cost saver in the long run.
How much?
The most affordable automatic drip machine we could find on Amazon is the Capresso 5-Cup Mini Drip Coffee Maker for a $39.99 initial investment.
$0.74 per serving, following the same cost per serving as the previous examples.
Total: $39.99 initial investment + about $0.74 per serving for a basic ground coffee.
Instant coffee vs. ground coffee at home
Making instant coffee at home is not only cost-efficient, but it's also portable, customizable, and just plain simple to make. Plus, the smell of coffee brewing in the morning will put a smile on your face.
Grinding coffee beans takes time, and some people don't want a whole coffee production mucking up their morning routine. Plus, if you have to rush off to work and can't spare the extra 10 minutes, it will cost you more money when you forgo the grinding to stop at the local coffee shop.
The convenience and speed of instant coffee are wonderful. You get a product that is flavorful, quick, and less expensive. And, it won't sit unused in your cabinets.
It is undeniable that instant coffee generally costs less per cup. Additionally, it is practical when all you need to do is boil the kettle. In order to ground your coffee beans, it not only takes more time, but you need more equipment. In the end, the convenience and inexpensive cost of instant coffee make it the better choice, especially when you're looking to cut costs.
Summary
As you look for budget-friendly ways to continue enjoying your day-to-day habits, including your coffee routine, look no further than instant coffee. You can enjoy it in a variety of roasts and flavors without leaving the comfort of your home. It's tasty, affordable, and quick.
