Gourmet Coffee Habit Costing Consumers As Much As $1,500 Yearly
By By Mike Valentine
Gourmet consumers rarely consider the cost of their daily in terms of the expense to brew premium whole bean at home (50 cents to 75 cents) with prices of a pound of gourmet beans versus a two or three cup a day ($4.50 to $6.00) drinking habit when purchased at premium houses. A recent Washington Post article discussed Seattle law students spending money from their student loans for Starbucks across the street from the Seattle University School of Law. Erika Lim, director of career services at the law school has launched a campaign to reduce consumption by students attending the university on student loan money. She points out that students are spending education loans on luxuries like latte instead of necessities like a loaf of bread. That borrowed money takes years to repay and many students don't do the math to see that study time with 2-3 cups of at Starbucks over 4 years can cost them significant sums - as much as $4500 in principle, interest and fees on their student loan - over the course of their education. An online calculator has been posted for those interested in calculating their caffeine expenses at:http://www.hughchou.org/calc/coffee.cgi Gourmet drinkers have become accustomed to paying $2 or more per cup for fresh brewed coffees at Premium houses – and many sources are predicting those prices may increase to as much as $4 per cup soon due to expected increases in green prices. But smart gourmet consumers have long known that premium brewed at home costs just 12 cents or so per cup, depending on preferences for strength. Many producers recommend starting with 1 tablespoon of fresh ground gourmet beans per standard 6 ounce cup of water. Starbucks recommends double that amount for stronger coffees at 2 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup. A pound of gourmet (that is 16 Ounces or 1 Lb.) divided by 1 1/2 Ounces comes to roughly 10 pots of 10 cups (6 Ounce cups) equaling 100 cups for the cost of one pound of gourmet beans. At the average of 1.5 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup and average size of 12 ounce mug, you can expect 50 cups of home brewed per pound of gourmet beans! Prices of premium gourmet beans range between $10 and $18 per pound, making a cup of home-brewed gourmet coffee, made fresh to your liking, cost only between .10 cents and .25 cents per cup or between $1.00 and $2.00 per pot of coffee! Even the rarest and most expensive sold, the exotic Kopi Luwak, at $175 per pound, is still less than $1.75 per 6 ounce cup when brewed at home! So if you have expensive tastes and want a 12 ounce mug of the rarest and most expensive on the planet, you still need only pay what some premium houses charge for a latte ($3.50) for that rare privilege. When consumers learn that they can purchase gourmet whole bean for between $10 to $18 per pound, then fresh grind and brew at home for significantly less than gourmet companies charge, many see home brewing premium gourmet as luxurious treat. Purchasing a thermos or a large travel mug to take with them from home makes drinking rich, fresh roasted a possibility for about one-seventh the cost of buying that from expensive and crowded shops. Many so-called premium houses keep their heated on warmers after brewing, but this practice causes the flavor to turn bitter after less than an hour of warming. It is actually more likely you will get a rich flavorful cup of from an insulated thermos or insulated type pump containers. Reheating can destroy the flavor of good gourmet - just as quickly as extensive warming. Coffee purists prefer to make individual cups with a press, fresh grinding beans for each cup and drinking the entire amount brewed before it turns cold to get the maximum enjoyment from their beans. Microwave a good cup of that has gone cold and you'll see how much better it is freshly brewed. Using good clean, fresh water is essential since is 99% water and bad tasting tap water can quickly ruin even the best fresh ground beans. You can enjoy great gourmet more and pay less for the privilege by starting with whole beans and grinding them yourself with a $20 grinder. Make only what you can drink or carry with you in a nice thermos or travel mug instead of reheating later. Use good tasting waterand keep your brewing equipment clean to prevent the rancid bitterness that can come from previous grounds in crevices. You can brew at home with fine gourmet beans, fresh ground and brewed in a French press maker, carry a fancy thermos of great to work or school and enjoy the best available for far less money than you would spend at crowded and expensive premium house. © Copyright 2005 http://www.TastesofTheWorld.net Written by Mike Banks Valentine for Tastes of The World company, focusing on specialty gourmet coffees which are not readily available in the United States. Rare Gourmet is their business so they make shopping with them risk free. "If you are happy tell a friend if you are not tell us" http://www.tastesoftheworld.net/Coffee-Cost-Per-Cup.htm
E-mail CustomerService@tastesoftheworld.net
Call 1-877-895-2662
New look!
We have done complete makover of our site. It was time for some fresh design...
9 reasons to enjoy your cup of coffee... or four cups actually
You can have your morning cup of coffee, knowing that the coffee you are drinking is not doing you any harm, but quite the opposite!
Kona Coffee Recipes
Honey - Cinnamon Kona Coffee
Coffee Articles
How About Some Coffee With Your Skin Care?
|
