Let me make it clear that I am a coffee-lover to my core. To me, there is nothing more satisfying than a light roast brew to recharge my body. I crave coffee on a daily basis and often find it necessary to get my caffeine fix mid day.
But viewing my bank account balance after I have ordered multiple vanilla lattes within the same week is a different story. Considering the fact that many of us students debate spending $20 on groceries for a week of meals but do not hesitate for a second to buy a $4 Starbucks cappuccino says a lot about our financial priorities. We are practically flushing our cash away for a short-lived caffeine buzz. CSU students in particular may want to watch their wallets— the six percent tuition increase between the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 school years only spell trouble for additional tuition increases in the future.
According to ABC News, the average American spends $14.40 each week on coffee. That means in just one semester, a student could be spending up to $210 on coffee alone.
With a nearly 17 billion dollar annual revenue, Starbucks is the ruling coffee company nationwide. But why? When faced with dozens of various corporate and mom-and-pop coffee shops, why do many students devote their coffee cash to this Seattle staple? Perhaps it is due to the 10+ shop locations throughout Fort Collins, or the way Starbucks has branded themselves as trendy in media, their growth is ever expanding, continuing to put a damper on students’ money.
If you want to save as much money as you can but also want to continue your daily caffeine intake, home brewing may be the way to go. Let's break it down: An average 12-ounce bag of ground coffee costs roughly $7 and makes about 26 cups of coffee (12 ounce cups). This means you are only paying $0.27 for each cup of coffee versus $1.75 at Starbucks. That would be a $7.40 difference each week if you have coffee each day of school.
And when put head to head against other Fort Collins coffee shops, Starbucks continues to be more expensive than anyone else. Let’s begin with Dunkin Donuts, who opened their doors in Fort Collins last year. A latte at Dunkin Donuts is significantly less expensive than one at Starbucks, $3.19 vs $3.95. This 76 cent difference could add up to a staggering $12 difference in one semester if you like to have espresso at least once a week.
AlleyCat Coffee House is also a slightly cheaper alternative to Starbucks. This Fort Collins original is a CSU favorite due to its casual atmosphere and close location. A 12 OZ cup of coffee at the Alley Cat costs 20 cents less than at Starbucks. This doesn't seem like much of a difference, but 20 cents for each cup can really add up if you are a frequent visitor. Plus, you are supporting a locally owned operation instead of giving your money away to a corporate powerhouse.
So if you just can’t let go of your weekly coffees, be aware of the money you are spending and save whenever possible. There are dozens of options available in Fort Collins for drinks a little cheaper than Starbucks’ as well as the old coffee pot at home. Drink on, coffee lovers.
