Amazingly cheap, totally drinkable coffee on the go

[MissStache]

  I commute about 1 1/2 hours to work (door to door and on the METRO, at least) (I know, the commute itself is a much longer and more convoluted post).  By the time I got to work with my made-at-home-and-in-an-insulated-mug-coffee it was lukewarm and I found that by 9:30 I really get to jonesing for a hot cuppa.  Our office is not coffee-pot friendly and there is an oh so convenient cafeteria about 100 steps away.  It wasn't starbucks, but I was spending about $7/week on coffee. 

  I combined some Trader Joe's intant coffee (it's really not so bad!), some powdered milk, sugar, and a little ground cocoa powder (mocha!), whirred it in the blender for a bit to combine, and put it in a big mason jar that I keep in my desk.  Now when I need a cup of coffee, I put in a few spoonfulls, add water, and microwave my mug.  It isn't the greatest coffee I have ever had, but it isn't bad and it costs about $.04/cup.  Yearly savings of about $350!

  Great for camping, too!

Taylor in DC

[AllChoptUp]

Great idea!  Another option would be a thermos of coffee from home, but it's tough to beat your own "just add water" solution!

[trammatic]

Great idea!  But wowzers on that commute...where in DC does it take 90 mins to get to from Alexandria?  I live in Frederick and work at home, so I don't have much comparison except for the rare day I need to trek down 270.

[MissStache]

Great idea!  But wowzers on that commute...where in DC does it take 90 mins to get to from Alexandria?  I live in Frederick and work at home, so I don't have much comparison except for the rare day I need to trek down 270.

Friendship Heights.  Luckily work is very close to the station, but I have about a 15 minute trip to the station from home then have to make a transfer.  When the Metro Gods are smiling it is only about 50 minutes in actual Metro transit, but the Metro Gods are frequently very, very angry and raining down retribution upon us.  Best to build in the cushion...

[ScubaAZ]

That sounds really good!

I spend a little time in DC and did the hour commute thing (walk to the metro, 40 mins on the metro, walk to the office).  Work 8-10 hours.  Reverse commute.  It was exhausting.  And that was when the metro gods were smiling.  They are frequently angry, aren't they? :)

[Snow White]

Thanks for posting this recipe!  I am going to give it a try as I have the exact situation as you...convenient cafeteria with barely adequate coffee for $$$ and no ability to make coffee.  One partial solution I have tried is to use my coffee mug that is also a French press. (REI brand).  I am limited to one cup though without cleaning out the grounds as that is a bit messy with our minimal yet overused kitchen area at work.  Your coffee mix might do the trick and make me appreciate the "real" coffee I get at home.

[Ms Betterhome]

I have a similar length commute, and similar tempting access to overpriced, not-great coffee at work. I bought an Aeropress, and now bring fresh ground coffee from home to make up at work. I am an espresso drinker, but not too perfectionist. The Aeropress makes 'nearly espresso' quality coffee and is WAY easier to clean than a French press. Highly recommended!

[wing117]

That's an interesting take on making coffee at work!  I've never thought of doing an instant coffee blend, sounds a lot like home made hot chocolate blends we make during the holidays! And significantly cheaper than my "super cheap awesome fresh coffee" solution, which is clocking in around 15-25 cents a cup.

I fully support the Aeropress decision as well! Best cuppa's I've ever had. I use it daily.

[acc7x3]

I try to take my coffee from home every day, but sometimes I forget. This is when I bust out my Melitta pour over filter. Granted I do have access to a Hot water spigot but I think that a two cup solution could work if you are good at poring.
Edit: here is what I am talking about "Melitta Pour-Over 1-Cup Brew Cone" it runs a massive $3 and you do have to buy filters. So with this being MMM domain it is a cost of ~$.08 for the brewing of the first 100 cups of coffee (minus the coffee of course).

[Ashcons]

Great idea on the instant mix! I have the Aeropress and the Melitta pour-over (among other coffee tools). I use the Aeropress at home on the weekend and the Melitta stays at work where I have access to hot water from bottled water dispenser. It makes a good cup, will last forever, was inexpensive, and is very convenient and easy to clean-up. You just need a place to dump the filter and grounds (or save them for the compost pile - cheap, high quality dirt for your garden, esp. acidic soil-loving plants) and give it a quick rinse in the sink.

Coffee's one of those luxuries that I allow myself (because who doesn't like a bold, smooth, dark-chocolaty cup of fresh Guatemalan or Brazilian). I do try to keep the costs under control for the equipment. No $2,500 espresso machine here ^{even though I love lattes and would use it every day}.

[High FIdelity]

Im afraid before I started on my current trend, I treated myself to a very un-Mustachian Bodum Bistro PourOver coffee maker and a Breville Grinder.  Hey, it was my birthday...what are you gonna do?  In the end, best decision I made from a coffee perspective.  Considering the 3 cups I have a day ($10 lb/ Columbian beans) and Starbucks being terrible coffee in general, I'll make it back in spades over the years.  I just couldnt do the Instant..I tried...its all awful save perhaps Tasters Choice 100% Columbian...thats about as good as it gets instant-wise if that's your thing. 

To all those who mentioned AeroPress (or even Chemex), you wont get a more flavorful cup of coffee than using those.  $15 solution, single cup, but oh so smooth and delicious.  And if any of your friends are headed to Hawaii, have them pick you up some 100% Kona beans (no the Kona blend which is maybe 5-10% Kona and assorted other beans).  You can thank me later.  Smoothest cup you'll ever have.

[ArtieStrongestInTheWorld]

Thanks for posting this recipe!  I am going to give it a try as I have the exact situation as you...convenient cafeteria with barely adequate coffee for $$$ and no ability to make coffee.  One partial solution I have tried is to use my coffee mug that is also a French press. (REI brand).  I am limited to one cup though without cleaning out the grounds as that is a bit messy with our minimal yet overused kitchen area at work.  Your coffee mix might do the trick and make me appreciate the "real" coffee I get at home.

+1 to this.  My MIL got us two Bodum travel french presses (http://bodum.bodum.com/us/en-us/shop/detail/11100-01BUS/) for free at a trade show.  With hot water from my wife's electric tea kettle, they're perfect for the commute.  In my experience, they're so well insulated that they're too hot to drink at first, but by the time I ride Metro from Wheaton to Farragut, it's the right temp.  For me, the coffee grounds go right down the disposal, but I plan to change that as soon as we set up a compost system.

[Dulcimina]

Have you tried the Trader Joes cold press concentrate? It seem like that could work too.

[wing117]

Have you tried the Trader Joes cold press concentrate? It seem like that could work too.

If you're going to do cold press, do it at home! Get a large container (ie gallon or heck, even a mason jar works) and put in enough grounds (17 grams per 8 ounces I believe), add cold water and let sit for 12-24 hours. Strain.

Done-zo. Some of the best iced coffee I've ever had. Sweet without the need of sugar.