Homemade Coffee vs. Cafe

 

By Xenia Morrison

 In this fast-paced world, coffee is seen as a need for many, from college students to company CEOs to blue-collared workers. Coffee shops provide drinks in a variety of flavors with syrups, sauces, and soft tops that accommodate people’s different tastes. All these items can be found in most grocery stores, meaning anyone can purchase the ingredients to make their coffee at home, yet there are still a handful of those who still choose to spend a good amount of money on coffee outdoors on a daily basis. So which is better, making it at home or buying it outside? To find this out, I have made a coffee at home, and bought a coffee of similar ingredients at a local coffee shop to compare the two.

Costs

One of the biggest pros when looking at homemade coffee is the cost. When you buy a coffee outside, you are not only paying for the drink, but for the labor that it takes for the drink to be made as well. It can get expensive very fast with add-ons like drizzles, whipped cream, or even if you choose to switch out regular milk for an alternative milk. During the current times of inflation especially, making coffee at home can be cost-effective. When I made my iced coffee at home, I used Nescafe instant coffee with oat milk. I love instant coffee grounds because I can alter it so that it can be a whole cup of just plain black coffee, or I can pour a small bit of water in two big spoonfuls of coffee grounds to create my own version of espresso. There’s variety and it’s a good investment for quick coffee at a good price.

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 Later on, I bought a coffee and asked for two shots of espresso, a similar concentration of coffee and caffeine, as well as oat milk and no sugar. I did this because I want the two coffees I tasted to be as similar to each other as possible. The iced coffee I bought was around $6.50, while the coffee I made at home was probably around a dollar, considering the amount of money I would drink per portion after I bought the ingredients at the store. In terms of the flavor, there was not too much of a difference, except for the fact that the coffee I bought tasted more refreshing, which is likely accredited to the additional ice that they have added. Yes, more ice may mean that I am spending more money on less product, but the way the ice cuts through the coffee’s bitterness and elevates the flavor of the oat milk raises the bar for what I consider to be a good coffee. Otherwise, it didn’t really feel like I was paying extra for anything special for this particular drink. 

Relating to the cost of the drink, I also like making my coffee at home because I prefer using alternative milks for coffee. I think it’s delicious and adds to the flavor of the coffee. For example, oat milk is very creamy but also thinner so it allows you to taste the coffee more while providing that smooth and sweet flavor. Coconut milk is sweet and has its own flavor which can elevate the coffee on its own without anything else. Almond milk and cashew milk is more of something that I use when I want to enjoy coffee while on a diet, and I love that these options allow me to continue to incorporate something I love into my morning routine. All the variety is exciting and becomes something I can look forward to, and I think that it’s really cool because people with allergies to certain ingredients in some milks, or if they are just lactose intolerant, have alternatives that allow them to enjoy coffee too. When I reviewed my coffees specifically, I used the barista’s lover's oat milk, which is pretty expensive, at six to seven dollars, or even eight dollars, depending on when one buys it. I bought mine at Winco, a cheaper store, and it was still six dollars which is insane. I decided to buy it, because I felt that it would bring me closer to the flavor of the one I would get from the cafe, but it’s not necessary. Personally, I think the better choice for everyday coffee is regular oat milk. It’s my go-to milk for coffee that is cheaper, and it still provides that creamy flavor while letting the coffee take the spotlight as the main flavor. People who do have those dietary restrictions, might also find comfort in making coffee at home because then they have more control into the portions of any ingredient that goes into the coffee. So in terms of availability, while it’s still great that coffee shops have alternative milks for people if they choose to buy their coffee, the little extra cost every day stacks up really, easily, and isn’t worth it in the long run. However, while homemade coffee makes more sense financially, there are still other major factors that play into a person’s reasoning for buying coffee outside, like the convenience of it, for example.

Convenience

People lead busy lives, and the majority start their day early in the morning, meaning that the time they have between getting up from bed and getting into their car is very precious. When I reviewed both coffees, I chose days when I would have school. On Tuesday, I woke up at my usual time, which is one hour before class. I took my shower and got ready for school, and then made my coffee for the day. However, towards the end, I had roughly fifteen minutes to make my coffee to drink it. As someone who likes to take her time to enjoy her coffee in the morning, I didn’t enjoy feeling rushed, and would prefer taking a coffee on the go and being to enjoy it throughout my day.

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 However, I could always invest in a reusable coffee cup that I can put my coffee in and bring it with me. It would vary on the willingness and how convenient it is for the person. It’s often easier to take that part of the morning routine out of the equation to, say, have more time in the shower or help the kids get ready for school. Despite the small frame of time it takes to make the coffee at home, I kept thinking that Tuesday morning that it’s easier to not have to think about it, and grab a coffee on the way to school.

 Although grabbing coffee on the go is objectively convenient, it’s not always the case. I had a plan to grab my coffee at a specific coffee shop on Thursday before class, but it was completely busy. The parking lot was full and the drive thru was packed with patient cars. I found myself contemplating, as I have in previous occasions, as to whether or not I should stay, even if it meant being late to class. I’m sure that there are others with a similar mentality. I decided to just go to another coffee shop that I know that is not so busy, but at that moment, I realized that my reason for grabbing coffee on the go instead of making it at home was not so valid, because I would have chosen to get a coffee over my responsibilities as a college student.

The Experience

Personally, I often find myself buying coffee outside rather than making it at home because I like the environment of the cafe. When I buy coffee, I’m also paying for the experience. The friendly faces, warm lights, music, and a variety of chairs and sofas and tables for both studying and hanging out all form together to create a welcoming hemisphere. I love dressing up and looking nice to go to a cafe for a cup of coffee, even if I am alone. It’s a fun excuse to dress up cute, leave home, and go for a delicious dopamine fix as well as to make many memories with friends, and it can be argued that memories are priceless. Treating myself to a coffee also motivates me to get things done. For example, I would tell myself that if I get an A on a really hard test, I would buy myself a coffee. Or if I would go run a bunch of errands that are boring and endless, buying myself a drink to enjoy while running said errands really helps get me through the door on most days. 

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Yes, I know it may seem like a waste of money to some, but honestly, as a college student who struggles to balance studying, sports, and a job, I do whatever I gotta do to keep things moving, and I am proud to say that it has worked beautifully so far. Money is meant to be enjoyed sometimes, and to remind yourself that there can be little joys in everyday life. It’s not always a joy that can be exercised, but if you have the means, then you should go for it. Plus, seeing the smiles and making conversation with the baristas, even if it’s just small talk, can have a big impact on a gloomy day.

 In contrast, people can also make coffee at their own house and have just as much fun. I find that on the days when I don’t have anything to do, when I can wake up at my own time and slowly start my day, I love brewing coffee at home. There’s something about pouring the coffee into my favorite mug, dissolving a spoonful of brown sugar, adding the milk, and then sitting down on the couch to read my book or go on my phone. It’s like a form of self-care, and it’s personally one of my favorite ways to start off a quiet morning.

Despite all these factors, looking into the pros and cons of buying versus making coffee, the choice that a person makes in how to get their daily coffee fix is truly situational and varies for every person. Some of us live very busy lives and need that extra sleep in the morning or extra time to get ready, and getting a coffee on the way to work is that person’s best option for them. For others, although they would love to get a coffee at a coffee shop, they just don’t have the budget, and it’s more convenient for them to work around that by making coffee at home and taking out in a travel mug. The best choice is what works for the person in their daily lives, and taking these points into consideration can hopefully make the decision easier.