Comments on: Money Saver: Beat The High Cost Of Coffee Shops

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:11:38 +0000

You are right, Ajax, espresso isn’t a particular kind of bean, and it is finely ground – however “espresso” is actually a kind of roast. It’s a dark roast, and it combines beans from different areas to achieve the flavor result.

Other ways to save would be to ask for iced drinks without ice and maybe an extra pump or two of syrup.

Also, as a current barista, I can tell you that those “almost free lattes” are very annoying. If it is a one person every couple of days, that’s fine (we get it). But if it’s more than that it will seriously mess with our variance costs (and then baristas get in trouble for “waste”). And it’s totally cool if you bring your own milk, just please don’t use up the milk that is provided as a courtesy.

Also, we are more than happy to teach you how to make your favorite drinks at home – we can show you how to steam milk and time shots and everything

By: Ajax

Ajax — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:47:05 +0000

There is a common misconception that espresso beans are different from coffee beans. Slap the word “espresso” on a bag of coffee beans, and you can charge more. As a former barista, I can tell you that “espresso” simply means the coffee beans have been ground finer and brewed using the steam process instead of the drip process. So use any kind of coffee beans you like for homemade espresso; it will still be authentic.

By: Trish

Trish — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:10:34 +0000

I was a serious Starbucks addict, a quad, venti latte everyday, sometimes twice a day. I bought a refurbished Starbucks Barista machine, for half the price of a new one (discontinued). A pound of espresso will last me at least two weeks and a bottle of syrup will last almost a month. For what I paid for about three drinks at Starbucks I now get at least weeks worth of lattes anytime I want at home. That machine paid for itself in record time and I’ve had it for at least five years now.
During the summer I make my own iced lattes with the super strong coffee for free in the office and milk I bring from home; the cost to make it is practically pennies. I still love Starbucks, but now I get only occasionally and it’s a treat.

By: Cheap Like Me

Cheap Like Me — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:50:55 +0000

Ditto on the Americano — it’s also about 100 calories less even if you typically order a nonfat latte.

And ditto on preparing espresso at home – our $80 stovetop espresso maker has saved us many times its price in coffee. Then we can be sure we are using the fair trade/organic coffee we prefer, and having organic milk with it, too.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:31:47 +0000

One thing she does not mention that I have done for a couple of years now is to order an Americano instead of a latte, and then add cream to get that milky flavor. An Americano is simply shots of espresso plus hot water and is usually a buck or two cheaper than a latte.