I looked forward to my daily coffee shop latte, but this luxurious habit was starting to add up without me realizing how much it was costing me over the long term. When I looked at the figures, the regular takeaway coffee amounted to over $1,200 a year.
Suddenly paying out $4-$5 dollars for an Americano or creamy latte seemed extreme when I worked out what else I could do with the cash.
Small wins are one of the easiest ways to start making savings when your budget is tight. Checking on your luxury outgoings can also help you decide what to prioritize. Do you value that daily coffee over a longer vacation? For me, it was making small savings to help toward the cost of a new kitchen.
Go manual
Instead of my daily coffee shop trip, I swapped to an alternative method to enjoy a fresh brew. But instead of investing in one of the best coffee machines, such as the Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select, $349 at Amazon, I chose a coffee maker at a comparatively rock bottom price.
The answer to help me save on my coffee shop spend was to buy a cafetière — a French press coffee maker. What’s more, apart from helping me save towards my kitchen, it has the added advantage of not using any energy and not requiring filters or pods.
I chose Bodum’s French Press Coffee Maker, for $28 at Amazon, and it’s allowed me to enjoy a fresh cup of Joe without the guilt of spending on take-outs.
How to use a cafetière
A cafetière is a heatproof jug, typically made of glass, which has a strainer attached to the lid. It's quite a basic concept, but it does produce beautiful-tasting coffee, and it's one of the easiest and most affordable ways to make proper, freshly brewed coffee at home.
1. Start by boiling some water, and leave it to settle for one minute. Waiting avoids the coffee grounds burning when the water is poured over them.
2. Add your cover grounds to the base of your coffee jug. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, one tablespoon per cup is a good measure, with a cup measuring 4oz (125ml).
3. Half fill the cafetiere with water, pouring it over the grounds, and give it a stir, making sure all the grounds are submerged. Then, top it up with the remaining water.
4. Add the lid, but don’t plunge it just yet. Leave the coffee to brew for 4 minutes, then slowly push the plunger down, taking care to hold the jug with your other hand.
Your homemade brew is now ready to enjoy.
If you want to take your French press coffee on the go, I recommend pouring it into the Ninja Sip Perfect Travel Mug, $39 at Amazon. It will keep your hot brew hot, unlike traditional takeaway cups. And if you want to try a portable coffee maker to save on coffee shop spends, I'd recommend the AeroPress Go, $49 at Amazon.
