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

radio_hack

The tips given here are great but I don't understand how anyone can be a MSE and use the chain coffee shops. I hate the idea of handing over cash, on which I've already paid tax, to a company that doesn't do the same.
instead, I have one of the stove top Italian espresso makers and start each day with a 'doppio' in a proper cup

Comping.Again

I don't work for a coffee shop - just a regular frequenter of Costa. I'm pretty certain that the take-out Primo is bigger than the drink-in Primo size but the same price. Also the kids love their 55p 'Babyccino' which is a choice of either hot milk or chocolate, sprinkled with chocolate on top and a nice big marshmallow to eat. Seems a bargain for 55p to be honest!

catwoman73

Comping.Again wrote: »

I don't work for a coffee shop - just a regular frequenter of Costa. I'm pretty certain that the take-out Primo is bigger than the drink-in Primo size but the same price. Also the kids love their 55p 'Babyccino' which is a choice of either hot milk or chocolate, sprinkled with chocolate on top and a nice big marshmallow to eat. Seems a bargain for 55p to be honest!

I think you might be right about the sizes Comping - if you look at the nutritional info, there are more calories in the take out versions - this can only be because they are bigger, although there is probably just more milk in, rather than more coffee?

On the rare occasions I go to costa, I get a flat white - I usually drink in, but I think I'll start taking out, as the only size offered is a bit small on drink in.

Doc_N

Best advice? Avoid most of the large overpriced coffee chains altogether.

But Starbucks in particular, for two good reasons. Their coffee is bland and tasteless (even worse in the cardboard carton they insist on using in some (all?) of their branches) - and they avoid paying the UK taxes which fund the NHS, education, roads and the rest of the infrastructure they rely on to make their profits.


Try Greggs - the coffee's tolerable, but the real bonus is that for £2 in the morning you get a very decent bacon roll and the coffee.

geri1965_2

The thing that puts me off going to places like this (other than the price) is that you have to queue first to pay, then queue again for your drink.

The queues are usually quite long as well.

I am more likely to go to the Wetherspoons for a coffee.

datimms

If your town has a Waitrose then clearly getting a free coffee each day with their loyalty card is a winner. You can usually just pick up a card in store if you forget it. The coffee isn't the best and if you ask for decaff you get a spoon of dried instant, but it's free so can't complain.

If your employer or someone you know has a corporate perks membership, check out their reloadable gift cards. I have a caffe Nero one which gives 6% off. Sometimes they have additional offers such as an extra £3 if you top up more than £15 (£18 credit therefore costs just 14.10). You can combine that with their loyalty card scheme too. Other offers are Starbucks 5%, Costa 7%.

jenniewb

I had a bit of a coffee addiction-buying lattes out everyday for lunch (instead of lunch) and telling myself I was saving money because a lunch would have cost me more.


I decided to buy a decent flask- decent so I don't mind using it and already within a week I've unspent the money just by using the flask rather than buying out.


I used to take only enough money for the day for me- an MSE way to only spend what I can afford and getting to the end of the week and having in fact a few days money left just makes it hard to buy a coffee out now! And I love that I don't have to faff around trying to get the coffee right; not too strong, not too milky/milky enough and then pay for the stress of it!


And I've cut back on sugar- I don't really need it but if it's there I'll have it, hence I've dropped around 10 sachets of sugar a week which (I've looked this up) is around 500 calories I'm just not consuming per week!

daveybea

my daughter worked out she was spending alot of her weekly lunch money on costa coffee or fizzy drinks (the only available drink at her college) so she makes her own green tea/herbal tea and puts it in a flask ..also she has a bobble bottle (the water filter bottles) when she needs a cool drink..yes the bottle and flask cost me about £14 but shes saved that much and more!!! but dont get me wrong she doesnt go without them ..friday is her "slow" day so she treats herself to a costa then ..and she collects her points up too!!!..she is a moneysaver..never too young to start!!! ..not bad for a 16yr old!!

paddyrg

Pret do a very serviceable filter coffee for 99p

dushanko

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Pret, their filter coffee is very good, it's organic and comes with organic milk so I go for this option every now and then. I had a friend who worked for hot drinks (foodservice) company and she told me that per cup, the cost of coffee (beans) is about 7p, the cup and lid is the most expensive at about 14p and sugar & milk about 3p so it looks like the companies are still making great amount of money even when selling for 99p, of course they have wages and rates to pay.(but not much taxes!!!)

I do like the Waitrose offer, but only get that once a week when I pass it on the way to cinema on Orange Wednesdays:)

paddyrg wrote: »

Pret do a very serviceable filter coffee for 99p