Expresso roast, coffee press and flavoring is everything needed to have a in-home coffee bar. Credit: Olivia Collignon | Lantern Reporter
With late nights studying and early mornings getting to class, coffee is something that gets most college students through the day. The downside: When living off campus without a meal plan, it begins to burn a serious hole in wallets.
So, if it’s possible to buy the tools to create the perfect cup of coffee at home and save some money in the long run, why not do it?
If you’re a person who buys coffee two to three times a week at about $4 per cup, this could end up saving you anywhere from $400 to $600 a year.
An off-campus house won’t come with the fancy equipment that your favorite coffee shop uses. You’ll need the key ingredients these shops use: frothed milk, espresso and flavor pumps. That’s what Amazon is for.
First: frothed milk. If you enjoy your sips of coffee partnered with perfectly frothed milk, this is for you. Amazon sells a wide range of portable milk frothers that start as low as $8.99.
Simply heat milk in the microwave and hold the frother in your cup for 12 seconds or until the desired amount of froth is reached.
And if you’re really looking to break the bank and be the go-to coffee stop on your block, Amazon offers large cafe milk frothers starting from around $38 to well over $100.
Second: espresso. Watered-down, Keurig coffee doesn’t compare to the rich espresso found in your favorite latte. While espresso machines range from $40 to upwards of $500, a more cost-efficient way to make espresso is with a device called AeroPress.
An AeroPress is specific for espresso grounds and uses pressure and boiling water to create your beverage. It can also be used to make iced drinks. The AeroPress can be found on Amazon for under $30.
Ground espresso can be found in most grocery stores and usually ranges from $6.99 to $14 per pound, depending on the brand.
But if you are set on getting an espresso machine, look into purchasing one from Nespresso for a little over $100 depending on the model.
Third: flavor pumps. For some, the taste of your favorite flavors in coffee is something that can make or break the whole cup. To get the closest thing to a coffee from a cafe, Amazon sells one liter of syrup for $14.40.
To continue the functionality of your at-home coffee bar, the items that will be added to your grocery list include ground espresso, which will need to be purchased every few weeks, flavoring every few months and milk.
Choosing the most cost-efficient options, the total cost comes to about $61.53 to get started.
For college students without a meal plan, coffee doesn’t have to cost you hundreds of dollars a year to continue being your saving grace.
