That iced coffee habit is a hard one to break; but you don’t have to sacrifice it to save money. After all, that extra caffeine kick can help you be more productive!
By far, the best way to save money on iced coffee is to make it at home, rather that at a cafe. Those who insist upon getting their iced coffee out can still reap significant savings by seeking less costly alternatives to the usual coffee chains; such as supermarket cafes.
If you came to this article through a search engine, you probably are tired of overpaying for your iced coffee at the obvious places – Dunkin’ and Starbucks. There’s no reason why you need to pay at least $2.19. It might not sound like much; but it really adds up over the weeks, months, and years…
The options I outline not only save money, but they may even save you time; because, with several of them, you skip the line. You may also find a slimming effect from these ideas, since you can have complete control over what goes into your coffee.
…and why shouldn’t you be able to enjoy an iced coffee whenever you want? Read on for unexpectedly great savings on the iced coffee that you’re craving.
Table of Contents
- How to Make Iced Coffee at Home
- There are Many Ways to Make Iced Coffee
- Can You Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee at Home?
- How to Save Money on Dine-Out Iced Coffee
- Resources for Further Exploration
How to Make Iced Coffee at Home
Making iced coffee at home means life-changing savings for those who have a daily iced coffee habit, as you can see from my chart, below. All you need to make your own iced coffee is ice, whatever lightener and sweetener you like, and, of course, coffee. There are many ways to DIY your coffee, none of them difficult.
After I’ve had my morning coffee, I set the pot aside to cool. Later in the morning, when I’m cleaning up, I transfer any leftover coffee into a 1 quart deli container, which I have labeled with the date. If I don’t use up the coffee within three days, I discard it. I don’t think coffee spoils easily; but it certainly loses quality after a few days.
Making your Iced Coffee to Suit your Taste
When I’m ready for an iced coffee, I pour an inch of coffee into my glass or travel cup, and stir in a teaspoon of sugar, until it’s dissolved. Alternatively, I sometimes stir in a teaspoon of sugar free, flavored syrup (I get that at the Dollar Tree).
I fill the cup with ice, and continue adding coffee, until it’s two inches from the top. I fill the balance with milk. You may prefer another choice to lighten your coffee – Cream, half-and-half, almond milk, etc..
There are Many Ways to Make Iced Coffee
If you are new to making coffee at home, you will need to discover how you want to do that. Allow me to introduce you to your options. Your main methods fall into the categories of stovetop, electric, pod systems, and instants.
Except for instant, they all work pretty much the same – Ground coffee is placed above a heatproof vessel, and hot water is poured over the grounds. The water releases the flavors from the grounds and flows into the vessel, as coffee. For full details on how each of these methods works, and my experience with them, stay tuned for my upcoming article on that subject; but here’s a brief synopsis.Â
Stovetop Coffeemakers: The Traditional Way to Brew Coffee
People have been brewing their coffee over an open flame forever. Stove top and electric coffeemakers use ground coffee beans, which come in a can, plastic tub, or bag.
The Percolator
The method on which I have settled is the percolator. In this method, water placed in the carafe boils, in carried upward, and splashes onto the grounds; which, in turn, creates diffused coffee.
The Melitta System
Another sort-of stovetop system is the Melitta. The grounds are set over the carafe, but you must boil your own water in your kettle, and pour it over the grounds yourself.
The Press Pot
Another add-from-the-kettle method is the press pot coffeemaker, which has the additional steps of waiting a bit, and then pressing down a plunger. While the prior two methods I have described produce an agreeable coffee, rich, but mellow; press pots brew the strong, edgy coffee preferred by Starbucks lovers.
Of course, how your coffee tastes depends largely on what kind of coffee you use. I detest burnt-tasting coffee; so when I buy, I look for words on the label such as “medium,” “regular,” and “mellow.” If you want to venture into something bolder, investigate coffees labelled “dark,” “French,” “rich,” “Kona,” etc..
Electric Coffeemakers: Contemporary Flair
For $10, you can buy a perfectly serviceable automatic drip coffeemaker, such as a Mr. Coffee. Go up another $5, and you can get one that is programmable, and will brew the coffee on its own and keep it warm for you. More expensive is the electric percolator, but the Mr. Coffee makes perfectly good coffee for iced coffee use.
Pod Systems: a Fresh, Modern Coffeemaking Method
Single-cup, electric coffeemakers, such as Kuerig, use what is, essentially, a drip process, with very finely ground coffee that comes pre-measured in disposable pods.
The advantage to the pod system is that it’s easier to have a variety of coffees, if you like. The other systems I have described brew larger quantities of coffee, between a pint and a quart at a time. That way, you can make several days worth of iced coffee before you need to brew again.
A further advantage of the pods is that the coffee doesn’t come out as hot, so your first tumbler of iced coffee will be ready sooner.
The clearest disadvantage of pods is that the pods cost considerably more than ground coffee.
Instant Coffees: Instant Iced Coffee Gratification 🙂
If you do not wish to own a coffeemaker, you can make your iced coffee using instant coffee. This comes in a jar from the supermarket. Generally, one teaspoon in 6 ounces of water will make your coffee, and then you can add your ice, sweetener, and lightener.
To expedite things, you can stir up the coffee in 2 ounces of warm water, and then add the balance of the water. This is especially good if you do not want to add too much ice, for stronger coffee. Refrain from adding too much instant coffee; it is extremely potent.
For the simplest DIY iced coffee, buy water bottles and a box of Trader Joe’s Dressed-Up Coffee. This instant coffee comes in compact, single pouches, like Crystal Lite. Pour one into a cold water bottle, replace the cap, and shake well. Instant iced coffee, complete with lightener and sweetener!
Can You Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee at Home?
It is possible to make the popular cold brew at home, but it is a very expensive way to make iced coffee. If you’re a huge cold brew fan, Trader Joe’s has a cold brew concentrate that won’t bust your budget. There are also home appliances that make iced coffee and cold brews, but these methods are more expensive than the ones I advocate in this article.
How to Save Money on Dine-Out Iced Coffee
If I have no succeeded in talking you into making your own iced coffee, you’re not alone. Iced coffee is such a hot commodity (sorry about the pun), they’re even selling more during the winter. Smithsonian Magazine quotes a Dunkin’ survey, stating:
Eighty-four percent of the 500 people queried reported drinking more iced coffee that winter season than the year before; 86 percent, meanwhile, reported drinking more iced coffee that winter than three winters prior.”
Smithsonian Magazine
Yet, there is still hope that you can save significant money on your iced coffee habit. If you’re not ready to become your own “barista,” let’s see if we can, at least, lower the price point on that professionally-made treat. Read on for some out-of-the-box ideas to help you get your cold coffee with a cool price tag.
Hidden Gem: Store Cafes Well Worth Exploring
Keep driving, past the Starbucks, and pull into your local big box store, convenience store, or supermarket, instead. There, you will be surprised to find a pretty decent iced coffee at a good price.
Grocers often can sell you a better coffee at a cheaper price, because they have less overhead and get their supplies at a deeper discount than the local chain cafe. Here are a few examples, and they are all certified delicious, by me!
- Costco – Mocha Freeze, $1.45
- Market Basket – Iced Coffee, $1.49
- Cumberland Farms – Iced Coffee, $.99 ANY SIZE!
McDonald’s Summer Specials Cool Down Iced Coffee Expense
McDonald’s used to be notorious for their awful coffee. They finally woke up to this fact a few years ago, and really cleaned up their act. According to NASDAQ,
By 2015, McCafe was the top third speciality coffee shop by sales, recording $ 1.4 billion in sales from around 5,000 outlets.”
NASDAQ
A lot of their fancy McCafe drinks are no bargain, but watch for their summer specials on iced coffee, and sweet tea and ice cream, as well. I have a fond memory of walking into McDonald’s one hot, summer day with $5.00 and four people. We walked out with two big iced coffees, two ice cream cones, and change!
Veterans’ Day Specials: Iced Coffee Served to Those who Served
If you’ve served our nation, watch your local cafes for specials. Many offer free beverages to veterans on November 11th.
Panera Sip Club Membership: Multiply Your Iced Coffee Savings
This is the most expensive of the ideas I have for you, but it is still a bargain, compared to paying full price every day. Panera has a deal where they will sell you iced coffee all month for $8.99. If you’re someone who gets more than one iced coffee a week, this is big savings for you. According to Statista, ‘the average American drinks 1.87 cups of coffee a day’ (.87? Are you, too, picturing that late-in-the-day cup that always seems to have an inch of coffee left in it?!).
Anyway , this means if you’re a typical coffee drinker, you could grab your hot coffee in the morning, and your iced coffee in the afternoon, for about 50 cents a shot!
