Coffee can be quite pricey in the Bay, but that's no reason to go without!
Times are tough. All over the world, people are tightening their belts and cutting back. But there are some things we just refuse to give up. If, like me, you find coffee to be an excessive (but necessary) drain on your finances, try these three ways to cut costs without losing out on your caffeine fix:
1. Opt for drip. Where possible, without affecting the flavor too much (for me, that usually means iced drinks), order drip coffee instead of espresso. It's significantly cheaper (usually a dollar or two for a large size) and with a splash of half n' half it tastes fairly comparable, especially if the coffee is good.
2. Split the coffee, and the cost. If you're out with a friend or a loved one, try ordering a large coffee to share, rather than spending a few dollars more to have two smalls. Sharing is caring, people! (Plus, if you choose your companion wisely you might get more than half; my boyfriend always lets me have at least 2/3 of our shared lattes, even when we've split the cost.)
3. Pay attention to opportunities. Keep an eye out for deals, like this one I posted from Peet's. If a loyalty card or a deal means walking a couple of extra blocks to save a couple of bucks, then take advantage of the opportunity to get some exercise too!
Comments
Espresso is hardly more expensive than filter coffee. Problem is when people turn their espresso into fruffy caramel milkshake frappes.
As for the splitting idea, you gotta be pretty broke if a daily cup of coffee is going to break your bank. Even destitute farmers in the South of Italy couldn't keep up the habit:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/1574958/Italians-share-coffee-to-beat-price-rise.html
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