I’m a huge coffee buff. And I cannot explain how making small changes to how you consume your favorite hot beverage is important to know how big of a change you can make to the entire year of consuming America’s favorite beverage. So yes, you can apply similar concepts to your tea, or other daily beverage.
Also, let me be honest about this setup. This is a LONG post. Please save this article, share it, and click on the segments you would like to review for your needs. I will have different segments of this article that I will publish and continue adding onto it as I will be as comprehensive as possible with why a change in your cup of coffee as an alternative could save you some money.
This illustration is one of my absolute favorite. Mainly because it is Americas favorite beverage, and we have several chains that provide this hot cup of deliciousness on a regular basis. It is so big, that in 2021 the coffee market is valued at $102.02 billion(according to Mordor Intelligence in this report). With that in mind, you will have a better alternative to brewing your own cup and drinking different varieties. I like using this illustration of coffee usage because it is something small, can seem something so minimal, yet changes over a long period of time have a drastic change. The other reason why I like using it is because it is far more prolific and socially acceptable as opposed to alcohol or tobacco usage.
With the following information, I would like to break down the expected life use of different types of machines and the return on value. Does it mean it is a worthwhile purchase? Maybe, it really depends on your frequency and consumption.
When you break down the cost-analysis (which we’ll get to later in the article), buying your coffee on the road is more expensive than brewing at home. To add on top of that analysis, I will show you that different how cost if you buy it for one year, and the cost of buying out for six-months.
Cost of Coffee cup comparison per price and size
| Name | Size | Ounces | Cost |
| Starbucks | Tall | 12 | $1.75 |
| Starbucks | Grande | 16 | $1.95 |
| Starbucks | Venti | 20 | $2.25 |
| Dunkin Donuts | Small | 10 | $2.09 |
| Dunkin Donuts | Medium | 14 | $2.39 |
| Dunkin Donuts | Large | 20 | $2.69 |
| McDonalds | Small | 12 | $1.00 |
| McDonalds | Medium | 16 | $1.49 |
| McDonalds | Large | 22 | $1.69 |
| Caribou Coffee | Small | 12 | $1.69 |
| Caribou Coffee | Medium | 16 | $2.09 |
| Caribou Coffee | Large | 20 | $2.39 |
| Home-Brewed | Medium | 12-16 | $0.54 – $0.72 |
| Average | 16 | $1.96 |
*Coffee cup costs for Starbucks, McDonalds according to Hack the Menu
*Caribou Coffee based on Real Menu Prices
*Cost of a cup of coffee at home (Found on Statista), price based on Coffee Detective;
*Average cost not including home brewed; value originally returned 15.83 ounces and was rounded up. Average cost of coffee does not include home-brewed and for the costs presented.
The values of the different cups of coffee can summarize the savings for each cup of coffee averages to around $1.26 per cup purchased verse home-made. These differences, with an average of 3 cups a day, reaches a staggering difference of $1,379.70 by making your own cup of coffee at home! With this difference, it certainly makes a difference to your budget if you stick with just drinking black coffee. By adding in sugar, milk, creamer, and any sweeteners adds up the overall cost in each cup.
This does not necessarily mean to kick the caffeine habit. Coffee and tea are among some of the favorite consumable drinks around the world. Americans are certainly in the top of the list when it comes to the amount drank and consumed in comparison to the world. Leave your comments below if you know otherwise.
I find it amazing that there are those who are willing to pay much more for one cup of specialty made coffee. Also, if you own a Keurig, it’s almost not even worth keeping one if you’re trying to save money for more than one person. Even then, you still need to keep vinegar on hand to run enough cleaning cycles to remove the mold from the lines.
Anyway, let’s start off in different realms of coffee makers and sizes. I can honestly say, that while I was going through college, that my roommate would hear me grind my coffee, and making three pots of coffee a day. Yes, 3 pots, or the equivalent of 36 cups of brewed coffee for my consumption. I was such a heavy coffee drink that I had to figure out how to wean myself off the caffeine.
So, let me get into the different types of coffee makers that you can have. If you’re like I was, go for the full pot. It will be helpful if you plan on having the full-size for entertaining guests with a cup of coffee.
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Bare bones, most simple coffee types
Small coffee makers of 4-6 cups is perfect for a single college dorm room. It’s great for 1-2 coffee drinkers to enjoy their own brew without having to leave too much time between your study sessions of cracking open your books. Also, it is great for many hotels because each room can outfit perfectly without having to cost too much. Also, because of their low cost, you will not feel heart-broken if they suddenly no longer work.
Even better, by moving onto your own place, you should certainly invest into a larger coffee maker. By having one, you allow yourself to entertain guests with a hot-brew without having to spend every 5-10 minutes making a full coffee pot. Or, if you are just like me and really invest into the “bottomless cup” lifestyle, this is totally worth your while.
If you are going out on your own and buying a coffee maker, you will find at your closest realtor the brands Cuisianart, Hamilton Beach, and Mr. Coffee.
No frills, just a switch and hot plate to brew your coffee:
You could go with a smaller option like this Mr. Coffee 5-Cup Machine because you want to outfit your dorm room, office, or guest room. It’s bare bones, low-cost entry point makes it quite favorable among many people because it is so light and easy to use. No wonder why it gets amazing ratings among many different resellers.
This Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Maker is very similar to the one that we own. It’s very basic, light, and keeps your coffee warm. Someone like myself doesn’t forget to hit that switch when I finish the pot very early in the morning. However, if you’re not the type of person to remember, or just plain wants something to start your coffee…
Need a Timed Coffee Maker?
Are you the type to forget easily in the morning? No worries! After your alarm clock goes off, so will the brew cycle complete. Just rub those eyes open, and shuffle on over to a hotly brewed cup of coffee.
If you need a timer for your small coffee pot, look no further than this 5-Cup Programmable Mr. Coffee. If you’re the only one in your house that needs that jolt of caffeine in the morning, you can pick up this machine for a good price and having something for the road.
This programmable 14-Cup gives you … more coffee? This Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable coffee maker is helpful to the coffee drinkers that really love to drink more than one a day. It’s enough that way so you can really get a jump start to your day.
Combination Machines
More and more coffee machines are going towards having more than one function. With their multi-purpose, you could brew a single cup, a travel cup, or other types of features.
Something like this Cuisinart Coffee Maker gives you the option of brewing a pot of coffee, or a cup of coffee. This one has high reviews and height gives you more options for your large coffee mugs.
This Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker sports similar features to the Cuisinart with a different design, and one-unit look design.
High Quality Coffee Makers
Okay, if you are really, really picky about the type of hot or cold brew, you can go with this Breville Precision Brewer Thermal Coffee Maker. The best thing about having a thermal carafe is that it helps keep temperature much longer with as little energy as possible. Not that you would notice in your electric bill, but it’s quite invaluable to your bottomless coffee drinking. The downside of this option is that with a weighty thermal carafe, you might not notice the weight and realize how much you still have left.
And my favorite of these different makers is last. Why should it be last? Well, because there is a difference in overall ratings, grade, and long-term use. The Technivorm Moccamaster is a sight to behold and has timelessly brewed perfect coffee. The secret behind this coffee maker is that it uses copper tubes to deliver water. This is the biggest deal, because copper in trace amounts is healthy for you, and is an antibacterial in nature. Yes, this machine will not need as many of those “vinegar rinses” to maintain your machine as often because of how it is designed. The engineering and health principles behind this maker not only make it a healthy option, but offers some of the best drinking experience with the way it heats and drips your coffee.
These machines have a sense of style and for the really picky coffee drinker. This does require a bit more finesse in brewing the perfect cup of coffee, or espresso that will get you a true jolt of energy in the morning.
Coffee Grinders
When I first started looking into grinding my coffee, I did not realize there were different types. This comes down to the blend of coffee, the type of method used (which is mostly drip), and the quantity. When you come to the type of coffee used, think of your median use of coffee first before making an adjustment on the ground type. For the real connoisseurs of coffee, it might not matter based on the type of grind, but you will notice if your water type does not match well with your blend. You can see the difference between blends and types.
With the different types of coffee grinders, I started with a small handheld cheap grinder that could grind more than just my coffee. Something like this Hamilton Beach Grinder still holds its’ own within my kitchen regardless. I first got one of these small hand grinders for transportability and the sharp edges. It is also great for chopping onions, herbs, and other spices at home for future storage. So, a grinder like this is definitely not a one-trick show.
However, out of the first splurge items is my coffee grinder. This Breville Smart Grinder is a tool that I use 3-4 times a day. Every day. For an entire year. I love it’s use because at the time I hit the button to grind, I would fill up my coffee maker in time to dump the beans that were made from this one. I have owned it for over four years (at the time of this writing) and has always provided a consistent grind of the beans I brew every morning. The reason is because of the different varieties I use, the ease of operation, and the surfaces for cleaning.
Coffee Maker Maintenance
I cannot say this enough, that to get good quality coffee, you need to do some maintenance every now and then. I am reminded that when I went got out of college, my coffee maker went back into storage until I had a place of my own. I did not run it through clean cycles and had coffee that tasted awful.
This is why I stress that you have some vinegar on hand. It’s cheap and can clean any built up coffee material, clean the tubes, and remove any foul mold inside of those tubes. I did not need to run a complete solution of vinegar through, but I did cut it with some water. If your build-up is that bad, I suggest that you run a 50/50 Vinegar water mix, 1/3 vinegar to water, and 1/4 vinegar to water ratio before brewing that next cup of coffee. If you do this, I promise that it will clear out the gunk and build-up.
If you have removable pieces, do not forget to hand wash them with a good brush and soap in the sink. This can include the water reservoir if you’ve accidentally dumped beans and never had a chance to clean it out.
Coffee Mugs
Okay, I went through a lot of different types of makers and ways that shows you how important brewing is at home. I for one, have a preference for the coffee mugs in my home. My family knows that I really enjoy the over-sized mugs that makes me bring out my inner geek. What I will say is that you should go with mugs that suit your personal preferences and style. It can make for a fun conversation starter if you have guests using mugs that you own at home.
I love building onto my collection of mugs through regular gifts during the year. For many years, I knew that my mother would joke about getting rid of my fathers’ coffee mug collection, but I secretly know that this habit has passed on for another generation of loving the unique style that makes my home. If you have people gift your mugs, even better. It says you the almost $1 – $35 designer coffee mugs you might find elsewhere.
What I do suggest is finding a mug that is ceramic or clay in nature. They often provide great lasting heat, form, and overall feel when pressed against your lips. Its also warning to your mouth if you think the item is still too hot for your consumption. Other varieties like copper, steel, or hard plastic might be good alternatives, but my preference is for the ceramic.
Breaking it Down by the Numbers
Okay, I might have gone overboard with a few things. What it really means is that you do not have have to go crazy and splurge on a great cup of coffee everyday. With the average American consuming three cups of coffee a day, a combination purchase of the two highest-priced items is still under $600. That it still half the cost of what you spend on coffee every year. Even more so if you can stretch that value over a 5-year period of time, lessening the overall basis cost.
Sometimes even spending more money on valuable items will negate having to make cheap purchases more often. This is one of those cases where enough research on the internet or my analysis here would provide to you.
In Conclusion
I see the value of understanding something as simple as a cup of coffee. It is very low cost, low maintenance, and has a direct impact on your future wants and needs. This discernment in lifestyle choices and making the benefit of this can alter how you are able to adjust the quality in your home life and place that money towards a perk that you might not have been able to afford. Even if you consume other things, this can certainly apply with each small choice.
Every now and then I will enjoy a more premium drink that I might not be able to make at home, because it is a treat. I do enjoy making my own coffee and making all of those special drinks for people years ago. Maybe one of these days, I might be able to get the espresso machine for myself and get to drink my shots of coffee once more.
Did you like this article? Did you find it valuable to you and your decision? I would greatly appreciate if you commented and shared this article to your social media, because every little support that you provide is another opportunity for me to come out with great analysis like this. So please, every little form of feedback is helpful for my growth even if you are not able to make any decisions on what you intend on buying, because research is valuable too.
