The Day I Never Saw Coming Did: I'm Ditching Starbucks

[oinkette]

So in another post I mentioned I started using budgeting software.  I won't name them since I don't want to sound like I'm some sort of spokesperson, but you probably know it since it's mentioned a lot here. I've given up a lot for FIRE. I ditched cable and the TV years ago. I do my own hair and nails. I  (now) only shop thrift stores on the rare occasion I buy clothes and goods. I moved out of my house to rent a bedroom 3 miles from work for $400 (utilities and internet included). This year I'm on track to max out so many tax advantaged accounts I'll be pushed into a lower bracket. But Starbucks was my one indulgence.

I used to think my Starbucks patronage was okay since I "only" do it on weekends. But then I really did the math. I can only do soy so there's an extra $.60 a pop. I'm off Fridays so that gets included. Half the time I usuually end up going back later in the day for "just" a misto (basically coffee with a lot of milk). That comes to ~$8x3days=24 X4weeks=$96/mo. Which comes to $1152 a year!

That did it. No more Starbucks for me!  My plan is to buy my own Tazo chai tea concentrate from Target, make my own, and use the local university library, which opens fairly early and allows food, to be my early morning hang out these days.

Hopefully by the time Pumpkin Spice Season rolls around I'll have fallen out of the habit.

[forummm]

Cool beans! Put that extra cash in your retirement accounts!

[oinkette]

It's basically 1/5 of an IRA.  So, so dumb! lol

[Bob W]

Wow!   I knew Starbucks was expensive but those numbers are shocking.   I can only imagine what a 2 a day Starbucks drinker is spending.

You could always try my $6 per year beverage plan.   

Start by buying 100 tea bags at Walmart for $1.50.     I then toss a couple into my coffee maker and 4 or so cups of water in the reservoir.   Run it.  Drink as much as I like.    Next day I use the remaining tea and add some more water and toss 1 tea bag in and rerun with the original tea bags.  I do this for several days before discarding the bags and starting over.   

So yeah,  I get my caffeine buzz.   The tea isn't so shitty tasting that I need to add any milk or sugar to kill the taste and I'm happy.   

So the box lasts about 3 months, give or take, for a whopping total of $6 per year.    Mostly I drink water other than that. 

[2ndTimer]

Like you I have pretty much given up Starbucks.  So far I have learned that I can make pretty good steamed milk for my own mistos by microwaving it to the proper heat and then whipping it in my mini French Press from Goodwill.  The smallest size works best for this because you can whip the right amount of milk for one cup in it.  My larger French Press takes more milk to whip properly.  I also keep peppermint patty and salted caramel syrup around for when I want a flavored one.  I have seen pumpkin syrup in the stores if that's your weekness.

[tonysemail]

congrats!  I also gave up on starbucks some time ago.
The daily habit adds up so quick.
I still budget $50/year for lattes when i'm on vacation.
but for the day to day grind, I've switched to cold brew .. give it a try and see if it suits your taste too!

[oinkette]

congrats!  I also gave up on starbucks some time ago.
The daily habit adds up so quick.
I still budget $50/year for lattes when i'm on vacation.
but for the day to day grind, I've switched to cold brew .. give it a try and see if it suits your taste too!

I'm in the process of using less and less cream in my regular day to day coffee.  Years ago I weaned myself off sugar. At some point I may get over this chai latte fix.  They are just so darn good!

[oinkette]

Like you I have pretty much given up Starbucks.  So far I have learned that I can make pretty good steamed milk for my own mistos by microwaving it to the proper heat and then whipping it in my mini French Press from Goodwill.  The smallest size works best for this because you can whip the right amount of milk for one cup in it.  My larger French Press takes more milk to whip properly.  I also keep peppermint patty and salted caramel syrup around for when I want a flavored one.  I have seen pumpkin syrup in the stores if that's your weekness.

I'm thinking of using what's left on my Starbucks card for a french press!

[Gerard]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I need somebody to explain this to me: I walked by a Starbucks recently and they were selling something called "cold brewed coffee" (or something like that... I wasn't taking notes).

Is this what I think it is? Coffee made by putting coffee grounds into cold water for a long time? If this is such a good idea, doesn't it mean that people don't need a coffee machine at all? Just a container and access to safe drinking water? Why would people pay Starbucks to put coffee into cold water for them?

[Merrie]

I was never a super regular at sbux but it used to be an indulgence for me. Then hubby got me an aeropress and now I can make lattes and similar, and I've lost all desire to go to sbux ever. Why pay $4 for a drink when I can make something I like just as much at home for a fraction of the price? I no longer look forward to my next starbucks trip or feel deprived.

[SavingMon(k)ey]

I'm a tea drinker the majority of the time, but I had a horrendous Starbucks problem and spent way too much there, even just with tea. So I cut it down to once a  week, and surprisingly, once I did that, I wouldn't even go that one time anymore. It was more of a way to get out of the building during lunch, so I started just sitting outside for a moment, and I didn't need to go to Starbucks. I was very unhappy at that job and was buying myself a moment of escape. Very expensive escape. A coffee shop opened in my neighborhood a few months ago, though, and they make such good coffee that even I like it! So now I go there very occasionally, maybe once every two or three months, to get coffee which is a big treat for me.

[Candace]

Congratulations oinkette! It's amazing how motivating running the numbers can be. I had a similar "Oh, fuck no!" moment when I calculated how much I was spending on my house cleaning service.

Sometimes small indulgences can be priorities. I just hope people run the numbers so they KNOW how much they're spending, and decide to indulge anyway -- and make sure their savings rates are good in spite of it. It sounds like your higher priority is saving that $1152 a year. Good on ya. My SO loves Starbucks and gets us each a drink a couple of times every weekend. I don't like his priorities in this area, but he is thrifty overall and I can't change them. Rather than badgering him, I figure I might as well let him get me the drinks if he wants to.

[Kitsune]

I really enjoy the occasional coffee shop visit (latte, book, 2 uninterrupted hours someplace where neither children nor work can reach me... bliss, and totally worth the 5$ for the latte).

That said, I also find that I enjoy it a lot more when it's an infrequent thing. It's so easy to slip into a habit of spending 5$ for every cup of coffee, especially when everyone else does it, and then it's no longer a luxury, it's just a part of the routine. A routine that, as you pointed out, costs upwards of 1K/year. Eek. (Similarly expensive routines: lunches out, drinks out on a regular basis, take-out meals...)

Personally, I've found that a latte out every two months or so feels plenty luxurious, but doesn't derail finances in a significant way. I think the balance is important - NEVER doing it would feel like deprivation. a 2$/month budget doesn't feel extravagant, but MAN is that alone time ever good!

[AllieVaulter]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I need somebody to explain this to me: I walked by a Starbucks recently and they were selling something called "cold brewed coffee" (or something like that... I wasn't taking notes).

Is this what I think it is? Coffee made by putting coffee grounds into cold water for a long time? If this is such a good idea, doesn't it mean that people don't need a coffee machine at all? Just a container and access to safe drinking water? Why would people pay Starbucks to put coffee into cold water for them?

I'm not a coffee person either, so I had to look this up.  Apparently, you coarsely grind the beans, then soak them in cold water for 12 hours, strain the grinds out & you're done.  No coffee maker required.  I think I'll stick with the occasional tea.  It doesn't even need straining!

http://food52.com/blog/7317-how-to-make-cold-brewed-coffee

[Merrie]

Cold brew is pretty tasty. Most methods make it concentrated so you typically water it down with milk or water. It can be nice to make a big pitcher and have it in the fridge for hot days when you don't want to drink hot coffee. Cold brew got me started down the "I don't even miss Starbucks" road last year, in replacing an iced latte-type drink. Thinking about it more, now I want to try blending it.

[sistastache]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I need somebody to explain this to me: I walked by a Starbucks recently and they were selling something called "cold brewed coffee" (or something like that... I wasn't taking notes).

Is this what I think it is? Coffee made by putting coffee grounds into cold water for a long time? If this is such a good idea, doesn't it mean that people don't need a coffee machine at all? Just a container and access to safe drinking water? Why would people pay Starbucks to put coffee into cold water for them?

Cold brew is a wonderful little set up, and you are correct, you don't need a coffee machine at all.  You coarsely grind your favorite coffee beans (burr grinders are infinitely better than other options, again to avoid burning the oil in the beans) and soak overnight in water in a 1:1 ratio - one oz of coffee to one cup of water, strain the next morning, then add this to your heated milk and you've got an epic latte.  The concentrate (highly concentrated/ caffeinated) lives happily in the fridge for a week, making the morning routine quite easy.

The problem with many coffee spots, Starbucks in particular, is that the water is too hot and ends up burning the beans as the shot is pulled, resulting in the burnt flavor.  The cold brew circumnavigates the issue because the beans aren't subject to the extreme water temperature.  At Starbucks, you can request what's called a ristretto shot which is a shorter pull and doesn't get that burnt taste (if performed correctly), but is also less espresso.  Also, a pinch of salt can sometimes take away the bitterness of an ill made espresso.

[forummm]

I'm a big fan of water. Straight from the tap. No fancy cream or sugar or other additives. Just good old, thirst quenching, life-sustaining water. I just can't live with out the stuff! And it's almost *free*! My work provides it free to employees as well.

[Rosy]

Oinkette, well then, if you put it that way:) :
That comes to ~$8x3days=24 X4weeks=$96/mo. Which comes to $1152 a year!

Reality check - so not worth it, if it keeps you from reaching your goals. Seeing the true effect in $$$ makes your future choices crystal clear and so much easier.

I love coffee and coming from Europe I really, really miss a good cafe. So meanwhile I buy beans and fresh brew my own. Starbucks doesn't even tempt me - who wants to drink coffee out of a styrofoam or paper cup anyway? ... and thanks to the poster who explained why their coffee tastes burnt! Yuck!
There is a Gelato Italian Cafe about 8 miles away and you know I stop in there for a mocha or machiato or whatever, whenever I get a chance - maybe 4-6 times a year. ... and yes, they serve it in a real coffee cup - signed retired coffee snob:)

[Mrs.LC]

Really feel like the minority here as I have never purchased anything from Starbucks. Have been in a few while traveling to use their WiFi and restroom but that's it.

[Bumbling Bee]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I need somebody to explain this to me: I walked by a Starbucks recently and they were selling something called "cold brewed coffee" (or something like that... I wasn't taking notes).

Is this what I think it is? Coffee made by putting coffee grounds into cold water for a long time? If this is such a good idea, doesn't it mean that people don't need a coffee machine at all? Just a container and access to safe drinking water? Why would people pay Starbucks to put coffee into cold water for them?

Not only that (newly reformed twice-a-dayer here), the cold brewed coffee costs over 20% more than regular iced coffee.

[alsoknownasDean]

Yeah I used to get coffee from the coffeeshop daily, now it'll maybe be once a week.

I've got a plunger at home and work has an espresso machine. :)

I'll still grab a coffee at a cafe every now and then. I like the cafes around here, but not every day.

I tend to prefer the smaller independent coffee shops to Starbucks.

Wait, is Starbucks seriously $5 a coffee there? Geez that's expensive.

[MarciaB]

That comes to ~$8x3days=24 X4weeks=$96/mo. Which comes to $1152 a year!

Well - it's more than that if you do this 52 weeks per year:

$8 x 3 days = $24 per week
$24 X 52 weeks = $1248!

(You had multiplied the 4 weeks by 12...which is only 48 weeks.)

So - even more reason to be glad you are making this switch!

[Mrs.LC]

Really feel like the minority here as I have never purchased anything from Starbucks. Have been in a few while traveling to use their WiFi and restroom but that's it.

I only go if someone gives me a gift card - which is actually fairly often considering I don't really drink much coffee (a cup of instant at home once/day). I use it to get something decadent like the Carmel Candy Crunch Frappuccino I got with a gift card a few days ago. Yum but fattening as hell.

That does sound decadent! Maybe it's a good thing I don't go there.

[Thegoblinchief]

AeroPress and never go back for coffee. Depending on personal taste, it works best at different sub-boiling temperatures (I like 190F). It's a bit annoying to achieve in the microwave, so I got a fancypants rapid boil electric kettle with multiple temperature settings. Damn does that make coffee/tea making fast and easy.

Since you also mentioned chai, PM swick. She's got a killer chai concentrate recipe for slow cookers. She's posted it around here somewhere but can't remember which thread.

[zephyr911]

I picked one of these up (actually in my spendypants days) not for financial reasons but because I can't even buy a decent cappuccino in Alabama and I was damn tired of it.

http://www.amazon.com/ROK-Presso-Manual-Espresso-Maker/dp/B00AV1E0GI

Not the cheapest, but it is warrantied for 10 years and built like an anvil. I got mine for $99 almost five years ago and it looks/works like new, no exaggeration. At this point I've spread that $99 over hundreds of cafe-quality beverages and fully expect to have it till I die.

Later my wife added this frother, which makes slightly better foam than the one included. I could take it or leave it but it's nice to have:

http://www.amazon.com/Ikea-Milk-Frother-100-763-20-Silver/dp/B00Q4O5MY0/

[onehair]

I gave up most iced coffee storebought when the big coffee companies started putting out Iced Coffee concentrates.  Takes a little getting used to but I carry a bottle of it in my bag now.  You get ice water and squeeze it in til you're contented. :-)

[2ndTimer]

Like you I have pretty much given up Starbucks.  So far I have learned that I can make pretty good steamed milk for my own mistos by microwaving it to the proper heat and then whipping it in my mini French Press from Goodwill.  The smallest size works best for this because you can whip the right amount of milk for one cup in it.  My larger French Press takes more milk to whip properly.  I also keep peppermint patty and salted caramel syrup around for when I want a flavored one.  I have seen pumpkin syrup in the stores if that's your weekness.

I'm thinking of using what's left on my Starbucks card for a french press!

Don't do it.  Watch the thrift stores instead.  They show up there all the time for $5.00 or less.  Spend the card on beans.

[Thegoblinchief]

IMO a $25 AeroPress makes significantly better coffee than a standard French press, no matter how much you pay for it. The single biggest advantage is the filtration method, which means you don't have to have exactly the right grind for it to work properly.

[JeffC]

IMO a $25 AeroPress makes significantly better coffee than a standard French press, no matter how much you pay for it. The single biggest advantage is the filtration method, which means you don't have to have exactly the right grind for it to work properly.

I'm with you on the Aeropress! I ditched my big coffee maker for one of these in an effort to reduce coffee consumption and it worked! I went from a full pot (12 cups) every morning to just 1 large mug (2-3 cups) and feel much better as a result.  Aeropresses coupled with Costco coffee makes coffee expenses something like $3 per month. And it is delicious coffee. 

One thing you will find a couple months after you have left the Starbucks habit is that it is actually incredibly inconvenient.  Unless you are one of those who likes to lounge around all morning in the Starbucks and be a regular(which I definitely am not but have done that at many bars so I'm not judging), it is so much more efficient to just make a cup of coffee or tea before leaving and bring it with you wherever you are headed. No more routing to allow for a starbucks, no more parking the car, going in, waiting in line, waiting the same amount of time as it would take you to just make the drink yourself, and then adding the milk or whatever, then walking back to the car, etc.  All of that will seem like an unreasonable amount of work just for a cup of coffee that you could easily multitask with preparing breakfast. 

[oinkette]

Like you I have pretty much given up Starbucks.  So far I have learned that I can make pretty good steamed milk for my own mistos by microwaving it to the proper heat and then whipping it in my mini French Press from Goodwill.  The smallest size works best for this because you can whip the right amount of milk for one cup in it.  My larger French Press takes more milk to whip properly.  I also keep peppermint patty and salted caramel syrup around for when I want a flavored one.  I have seen pumpkin syrup in the stores if that's your weekness.

I'm thinking of using what's left on my Starbucks card for a french press!

Don't do it.  Watch the thrift stores instead.  They show up there all the time for $5.00 or less.  Spend the card on beans.

Duly noted!

[oinkette]

That comes to ~$8x3days=24 X4weeks=$96/mo. Which comes to $1152 a year!

Well - it's more than that if you do this 52 weeks per year:

$8 x 3 days = $24 per week
$24 X 52 weeks = $1248!

(You had multiplied the 4 weeks by 12...which is only 48 weeks.)

So - even more reason to be glad you are making this switch!

Yikes!

[zephyr911]

Don't do it.  Watch the thrift stores instead.  They show up there all the time for $5.00 or less.  Spend the card on beans.

Duly noted!

Absolutely. Same with a grinder, if you're into that. I got a really nice one for $1.99, to go with my bombproof oversized stainless steel travel mugs at $1 each. I fracking love thrift stores.

[2ndTimer]

Like you I have pretty much given up Starbucks.  So far I have learned that I can make pretty good steamed milk for my own mistos by microwaving it to the proper heat and then whipping it in my mini French Press from Goodwill.  The smallest size works best for this because you can whip the right amount of milk for one cup in it.  My larger French Press takes more milk to whip properly.  I also keep peppermint patty and salted caramel syrup around for when I want a flavored one.  I have seen pumpkin syrup in the stores if that's your weekness.

I'm thinking of using what's left on my Starbucks card for a french press!

Don't do it.  Watch the thrift stores instead.  They show up there all the time for $5.00 or less.  Spend the card on beans.

If I had it to do over again now, I might well spring for an aero press instead of buying a French Press based on all the recommendations I have read here and other places.  Can you use an aeropress to make foamed milk? 

[horsepoor]

IMO a $25 AeroPress makes significantly better coffee than a standard French press, no matter how much you pay for it. The single biggest advantage is the filtration method, which means you don't have to have exactly the right grind for it to work properly.

I'm with you on the Aeropress! I ditched my big coffee maker for one of these in an effort to reduce coffee consumption and it worked! I went from a full pot (12 cups) every morning to just 1 large mug (2-3 cups) and feel much better as a result.  Aeropresses coupled with Costco coffee makes coffee expenses something like $3 per month. And it is delicious coffee. 

One thing you will find a couple months after you have left the Starbucks habit is that it is actually incredibly inconvenient.  Unless you are one of those who likes to lounge around all morning in the Starbucks and be a regular(which I definitely am not but have done that at many bars so I'm not judging), it is so much more efficient to just make a cup of coffee or tea before leaving and bring it with you wherever you are headed. No more routing to allow for a starbucks, no more parking the car, going in, waiting in line, waiting the same amount of time as it would take you to just make the drink yourself, and then adding the milk or whatever, then walking back to the car, etc.  All of that will seem like an unreasonable amount of work just for a cup of coffee that you could easily multitask with preparing breakfast.

Ditto all this.  There is a Sbux across the street from my office, but it is still faster to make a cup of drip at home.  I have an insulated electric kettle, so I can just get it going whenever I wander down to the kitchen, and it will switch off when the water is done boiling and keep it hot enough to brew when I'm ready for it.  A quick twist of the dial on my fancy pants grinder, then pour the water over in a couple cycles while packing my lunch and I'm out the door.  Not to mention it's served in my favorite travel mug, which keeps the coffee hot much longer than a crappy paper cup, and doesn't generate additional waste everyday.

Thanks to the person who posted cold brew instructions up thread.  We used to sell cold brew concentrate at a coffee shop I worked at in college, but it required a special device, and I haven't gotten around to figuring out a method that doesn't involve buying more equipment.

[Mrs. Crackin' the Whip]

Wow!  Good for you!  I don't have a coffee habit.  I'm a generic store brand or Maxwell kind of girl but I have a friend who told me that she spent $116 last month on Dunkin Donuts ground coffee that she buys and then brews at home.  Is that even possible?  It sounds like so much!   

[Gerard]

This reminded me of my facepunchworthy starbucks experience earlier this year. At a conference, needed some tea (because American conference organizers forget that Canadian attendees will use up all the tea really fast). So down the street to starbucks, to pay three-something.

Then I remember... I have tea bags in my pack! I'm basically paying starbucks for hot water and milk! So next cup, I buy my "tea" from McD's for a buck or so, throw out their teabag, and use my own.

[Goldielocks]

Really feel like the minority here as I have never purchased anything from Starbucks. Have been in a few while traveling to use their WiFi and restroom but that's it.

You really should buy something, sometimes, if you use their facilities.  Or use the gas station where a less clean toilet is not worth much.

[zephyr911]

Wow!  Good for you!  I don't have a coffee habit.  I'm a generic store brand or Maxwell kind of girl but I have a friend who told me that she spent $116 last month on Dunkin Donuts ground coffee that she buys and then brews at home.  Is that even possible?  It sounds like so much!

FWIW, DD does make good coffee and I know people who go out of their way to get it, but she is drinking insane amounts of it to spend that much. It's not that expensive. I don't think it's more than $10 a bag, which means (assuming she drinks it every day and doesn't throw much away) she's killing almost a whole bag every two days. That is a disturbing amount of caffeine.

I don't think I could drink $116 worth of that coffee in a month even if I bought it already brewed in the store. My heart would explode.

[jengod]

Oinkette, I was in the same place as you! When started tracking expenses I found $50+ in monthly Starbucks spending.

FWIW, I do vote for spending on home coffee equipment just so you can build replacement systems/habits for getting your caffeine fix. I already had a French press, grinder and thermos but I did need to start comparing whole bean prices and figuring out what my new morning routine was going to be.

Protip: If your preschooler breaks the glass carafe part of your French press you don't need to reload the whole thing you can buy the glass part separately. :)

Protip 2: Don't forget you still get a free birthday coffee as part of Starbucks Rewards if you've been using that. :)

[Thegoblinchief]

Wow!  Good for you!  I don't have a coffee habit.  I'm a generic store brand or Maxwell kind of girl but I have a friend who told me that she spent $116 last month on Dunkin Donuts ground coffee that she buys and then brews at home.  Is that even possible?  It sounds like so much!

FWIW, DD does make good coffee and I know people who go out of their way to get it, but she is drinking insane amounts of it to spend that much. It's not that expensive. I don't think it's more than $10 a bag, which means (assuming she drinks it every day and doesn't throw much away) she's killing almost a whole bag every two days. That is a disturbing amount of caffeine.

I don't think I could drink $116 worth of that coffee in a month even if I bought it already brewed in the store. My heart would explode.

Yeah, my wife loves the DD French Vanilla. Her cup a day habit costs $10-15/month. The DD coffee is way overrated IMO but that's what she likes, so it's a small luxury.

[BicycleB]

Oinkette, congratulations!  I envy the library-that-allows-food situation; sounds perfect.

[sistastache]

  Thanks to the person who posted cold brew instructions up thread.  We used to sell cold brew concentrate at a coffee shop I worked at in college, but it required a special device, and I haven't gotten around to figuring out a method that doesn't involve buying more equipment.

If you can get your hands on a Mr. coffee gold mesh strainer- I bought mine from amazon for about $6- this bad boy will hold about four ounces of ground beans, making about a weeks worth if brew. Totally reusable and the filter is fine enough to handle all the silt. I just put this in a bowl and add water, let it hang out over night, dump the grounds the next day and pour the brew back through the basket one time to catch any grounds that went astray.  Perfect cold brew!  For reference, here is the link to the Mr coffee filter I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000CFQJS/ref=ya_aw_oh_pii

[zephyr911]

Or, you know, just put the grounds inside a cotton bag or any kind of cloth that you can tie up, and immerse overnight.

Back when I was serving iced espresso in Iraq (true story) we had actual cold-brew bags that I mail-ordered from somewhere in the US, but I'm pretty sure a towel would work in a pinch.

[zephyr911]

This is the slow cooker chai concentrate recipe I use, though I reduce the sugar.

http://www.vegetarianslowcooker.com/2009/10/chai-latte-concentrate-oregon-trail.html

My husband and I are into the fancy frothed drinks, so I got a Craigslist Nespresso Latissima for $100. HiLine Coffee sells knockoff pods for $0.36 a pod that are quite tasty (Nespresso pods are double that), and my next project is to get some Illy and refillable pods to play with and hopefully knock that down to pennies a day. The Latissima has already cut our coffee expenditure so much.

Where can I order from HiLine? My MIL drinks about 3x Nespresso shots a day and I was planning to bring some on my next visit. 100% compatible?

[zephyr911]

https://www.hilinecoffee.com/collections/shop

They are 100% compatible with the original Nespresso machines, not with the Vertuo line machines they just released. Personally, I wait until they offer a 10% or larger discount and then order at least $50 of the Brooklyn blend, which is their cheapest, to get the free shipping. That brings it down to 36 cents a cup. We also tried Gourmesso pods, but they aren't very good. I can't tell you how any of the knock offs compare to the original Nespresso capsules, as I've never bought them.

Thanks! Hers is a couple of years old so I'm assuming it'll work.

[wintersun]

I think MMM multiplies the monthly amount by 173 to find out what it costs you over 10 years.  Here is your magic number:

$17,992.

[Mrs. Crackin' the Whip]

Wow!  Good for you!  I don't have a coffee habit.  I'm a generic store brand or Maxwell kind of girl but I have a friend who told me that she spent $116 last month on Dunkin Donuts ground coffee that she buys and then brews at home.  Is that even possible?  It sounds like so much!

FWIW, DD does make good coffee and I know people who go out of their way to get it, but she is drinking insane amounts of it to spend that much. It's not that expensive. I don't think it's more than $10 a bag, which means (assuming she drinks it every day and doesn't throw much away) she's killing almost a whole bag every two days. That is a disturbing amount of caffeine.

I don't think I could drink $116 worth of that coffee in a month even if I bought it already brewed in the store. My heart would explode.

I didn't mean to indicate that the coffee was just for her!  There are 3 adults in their household and she brews iced coffee which I think takes very strong coffee.  Sorry for the confusion!

[horsepoor]

Or, you know, just put the grounds inside a cotton bag or any kind of cloth that you can tie up, and immerse overnight.

Back when I was serving iced espresso in Iraq (true story) we had actual cold-brew bags that I mail-ordered from somewhere in the US, but I'm pretty sure a towel would work in a pinch.

Aw yeah, I have a jelly strainer I never use.  It is officially being repurposed soon as the next heatwave arrives.

[oinkette]

I think MMM multiplies the monthly amount by 173 to find out what it costs you over 10 years.  Here is your magic number:

$17,992.

ha ha...wow!

[FuturePrimitive]

Man, I totally thought this thread was gonna be about SBUX stock and not the coffee itself, thought I had missed some important, dire news about the company! That said, I used to drink 1-2 Venti Mochas a week but cut that out about a year ago. I do buy their espresso beans and brew at home though, bag lasts me ~6 weeks or so as I'm the only coffee drinker in the house.