Tips for Cutting Coffee Costs at Home

Some days I cringe at what my home-brewed coffee costs, but I’d hate to give it up even more. So I’ve developed a routine that lets me enjoy a daily cup (sometimes two) despite higher coffee prices.

A few of these ideas came from Dollar Stretcher readers, and they’ve earned a permanent place in my kitchen.

Use a Coffee Maker That Fits Your Habits

I’m the only coffee drinker in my house, so when my 12-cup machine died, I replaced it with a Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Single-Serve Coffee Maker.

It has a reusable filter (it also has a pod, although I don’t buy pods) and brews one fresh cup at a time—no wasted coffee, no paper filters and no temptation to drink a stale second pot.

Buy Coffee on BOGO—But Not Too Much

I get the best value by buying my grocery store’s dark-roast store brand when it’s BOGO. It’s good coffee at a significant discount.

I also pick up K-cups on BOGO for company.

One caution: Unless you go through coffee quickly, skip stocking up on multiple BOGO deals. Even vacuum-sealed grounds can lose freshness.

Store It Properly To Stay Fresh

I keep the coffee in its original bag inside an airtight ceramic canister in a cabinet away from heat. That simple step keeps it tasting fresh much longer.

Use Less Coffee Per Cup

Dark roast saves me money because I can use less and still get the flavor I like. I measure carefully—usually two teaspoons per six ounces of water.

If I brew a second cup, I add one teaspoon of fresh grounds to the used ones. With creamer, it tastes just as strong at half the cost.

Note: You may want to skip this tip if you love strong coffee. My dad drinks the darkest, most bitter coffee I have ever tasted—and he won’t let me make him coffee. He says mine tastes like coffee-flavored water.

Filtered Water Helps

Using filtered water improves the taste and seems to slow mineral buildup in my machine.