Great 'Do you have any coffee shop MoneySaving tips/tricks?' Hunt

Former_MSE_Charlotte_Deals_Hunter · 9 April 2014 at 10:51AM

Have you got any crafty tips and tricks that could save MoneySavers some cash in coffee shops such as Starbucks and Costa, etc?

MSE Charlotte is on the hunt to find any MoneySavers who work or have worked at any of the giant coffee shops to dish the dirt. For example, is it true there is a coffee cup size called 'short' that's not advertised at one chain, which gives you the same amount of coffee but is cheaper?

Please let us know:
Which coffee shop do you work for/did you work for?
Have you got a savvy tip?

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double_mummy · 15 April 2014 at 8:37PM

buy one large drink and ask for it to be split between 2 small cups
sign up to the newsletter and get a free coffee within 30 days of your birthday
dont buy bottled water all their water is filtered so ask for a large tap water with ice
ask for frozen coffees in a larger cup with extra ice - same price goes much further
split drinks buy 1 large americano 1 cup of hot water and 1 spare cup - makes 2 large drinks for the price of one

stroptart · 16 April 2014 at 9:30AM

Not relating to a big coffee chain but Mcdonalds has a 2 for 1 offer on its smartphone app.
The app is free to download. Then you need to bump 2 phones together with the app open and both get a 2 for 1 voucher for any item in the mc cafe range. If you use it for coffee, save the stickers on the side and 3 paid-for drinks plus the 3 free gets you enough stickers for the 7th one free.
Promo runs till 29th April and you can only have one voucher on your phone at a time. But you can use it then get another one straight away.

icklejulez · 16 April 2014 at 9:46AM

Costa do kiddy sized hot chocolate for 50p

liz545 · 16 April 2014 at 2:24PM

If you like iced coffee, an iced americano is usually less expensive than an iced latte, just as tasty, and lower in calories as it doesn't contain as much milk. A filter coffee/americano with a pump of syrup is less expensive (and again, lower calorie) than a flavoured latte.

As an ex-Starbucks barista, I never minded if people ordered short drinks or tap water but I did get a bit annoyed by people who split drinks or acted like they'd discovered a 'secret' menu, because usually they didn't have the manners to ask nicely. So my main tip would be be nice to the baristas, ask politely with a smile, and we're much more likely to give you freebies! :-)

lean&mean · 16 April 2014 at 2:41PM

Yes, Starbucks do a 'short' size cup. I read about it in a book about economics. Ever since then I've often ordered a short cappucino, which is ideal, as the 'tall' size is way too big. They keep the cups under the counter and don't advertise the short size on the price board. The short is about 25p cheaper than a tall.

Cafe Nero cup sizes are small anyway so no point downsizing, but I wonder about Costa which are ridiculously large. Have they got a smaller cup size (oo-er missus)?

I liked the suggestion about ordering a huge size then splitting between two cups. Not sure if I've got the chutzpah to ask for it, but maybe one day...

Seakay · 16 April 2014 at 3:23PM

I look out on group purchase sites for Starbucks offers - usually buying a £10 value voucher for £5 cost
I only go to Starbucks for a treat and it feels even better knowing that it is half price!

I signed up for a John Lewis shop card and got 6 vouchers for one free hot drink and cake once a month.

I signed up for a Waitrose card and get a free coffee every time I go to town. (one a day is the rule)

Everywhere I always top up my coffee from the milk jug - there is always room for more volume under the froth

If you buy a pot of tea then always ask for a jug of hot water and use it to top up the pot after you pour.

PasturesNew · 16 April 2014 at 3:25PM

My tip is to walk on by.... I've never bought a coffee from these places; I don't even have a coffee after a meal.

Get used to instant granules and make one when you get home.

penrhyn · 16 April 2014 at 3:32PM

Don't use them, make your own. Nespresso around 30p a shot.

cazpost · 16 April 2014 at 4:03PM

My tip would also be....don't go in there in the first place ! Most of the chain coffee shops,and a lot of independents,just charge ridiculously high prices for food and drinks. I'm sure the staff don't get matching high wages .

I do have a My Waitrose card, which gets me a free tea if I happen to go in there (about once a month usually). Otherwise I go to a local independent coffee shop,with a friend ,once a month,we have a pot of tea and extra hot water £1.70 for the 2 of us. The rest of the time I wait until I am at home, or at work and have my tea there. I carry a water bottle ,filled with tap water,in case I need a drink while I am out.

I work with a woman who comes to work early specifically so that she can stop off on the way in to get a coffee from Costa, which she makes a great show of carrying down the road and then drinking at work. We have tea and coffee supplies in the office, we are both on minimum wage and she frequently throws half of it away as it has gone cold........Grrrr!!!!

ConfusedOfCatford · 16 April 2014 at 5:07PM

Drink tea.

Great 'Do you have any coffee shop MoneySaving tips/tricks?' Hunt

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