When you’re trying to save more money or get out of debt, every penny counts. In fact, one of the top solutions to getting out of debt or increasing your savings is to cut back on your spending. At the top of the list of recommendations to cut back on is buying coffee from a cafe or restaurant. Though it may only seem like a few bucks each day, the costs can really add up. If you don’t get your coffee from a cafe or restaurant, what in the world are you going to do?
Let’s be honest. You’ve made a cup of coffee before, but it pales in comparison to the coffee you get every day at your favorite cafe. It may seem a lot easier and more convenient to continue to purchase your coffee every day, but with a bit of practice and the right devices, you can have an affordable but delicious cup of coffee at home.
Use the Pour Over Method
If you want a really rich-tasting coffee each day then the pour-over method is the best brewing process to choose. You might think that it would be difficult to brew your coffee this way, but you can learn how to make pour over coffee fairly easily. There are several types of pour-over devices you could use to make your coffee including the Chimex, Kalita Wave, and the Melitta Cone and each of these devices are pretty affordable.
Get a Water Filter Pitcher
Tap water just won’t do if you want a delicious cup of coffee each morning. Filtering your water helps to get out contaminants that cause the water to taste bad and be bad for you. You don’t need to go overboard and purchase a whole-house filtration system if you don’t have the funds for it. Instead, you can purchase one or two water filter pitchers. Keep them filled so that they’re ready when you need to prepare your coffee.
Use a Gooseneck Kettle
The water temperature makes a significant difference in the taste of your coffee. As most coffee makers don’t actually get the water to a high enough temperature, it is recommended that you use a gooseneck kettle. You can boil the water to over 200 degrees making it ideal for a fresh cup of coffee. The gooseneck is designed to make the pour-over method a lot less messy as you dispense hot water over the coffee grounds.
Coffee Grinder
Coffee beans start to lose their freshness and flavor the moment they are ground up. Therefore, if you want a great-tasting cup of coffee, it is highly recommended that you purchase your beans whole. Then, invest in a quality burr coffee grinder to grind your beans on the spot. To use the pour-over method, you’ll want to grind your beans on a medium grind level.
Paper Filters
You can’t make a good cup of coffee without filters to keep the grinds from getting into your cup. For the pour-over method, you’ll want to use paper filters. You’ll want to make sure you get the right size filters for your pour-over brewer.
Syrup, Cream, Sweetener
The last things you’ll need to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee are syrup, cream, and sweetener. Unless you prefer to drink your coffee black (which is totally fine), you’ll need some extra ingredients to give your warm beverage more flavor. If you enjoy additives like blueberries, caramel, fudge, or vanilla, then you might enjoy experimenting with different syrups for your coffee. Another option for added taste is flavored creamer. These days, you can find creamer in just about any flavor from mint chocolate chip to pumpkin spice. Lastly, decide what kind of sweetener you’ll use (if any) to counteract the bitterness of your drink. Just keep in mind that adding too much sugar can be bad for your health and reduces the health benefits of a cup of coffee.
When you’re trying to get your finances in order, you often have to make some sacrifices. That sacrifice may even include your daily dose of coffee. There’s no need to be discouraged, however. Using the tips provided above you can still drink a cup of coffee while binge-watching your favorite Netflix series and save a ton of money doing it. All you need are the essential items provided above, your favorite coffee mug, and a few minutes to prepare it.
