DIY Starbucks cost breakdown

Starbucks cup photographed on October 26, 2016. (Joshua Trujillo/Starbucks)
Starbucks cup photographed on October 26, 2016. (Joshua Trujillo/Starbucks)

So, how much money can you save by making your Starbucks coffee at home?

BEFORE:
I would let myself have my favorite Starbucks Caffe Mochas only on weekends. Two days at $4.38 each comes to $8.76 for the weekend or $35.04 for the month. (As long as we’re here, let’s break down the calories too. I’d get a “grande non-fat no whip” for 250 calories a pop.)

AFTER:
My DIY Starbucks caffe mochas use:

> 5 oz skim milk. One gallon costs $1.65 at Costco. That makes it .06 for the milk. (And 50 calories).

> 1 tablespoon (1/2-ounce) of mocha powder. 14 oz is $9.95. That makes it .36 for the mocha. (And 20 calories).

> 3 tablespoons (1-1/2 ounces) of Starbucks espresso ground beans. 12 oz is $7 at Target. So, .88 for the coffee. (And 0 calories).

So, $1.30 per mocha. (And only 80 calories each!).  Two days at $1.30 each comes to $2.60 for the weekend or $10.40 for the month. A savings of $24.64 per month, or almost $300 for the year. (My coffee maker already paid for itself, in about 23 mochas.) I think I will plow my savings into having one every day instead of just on weekends. It’s still a savings by year end. Yay for caffeine!

Starbucks: $4.38 per drink
Home: $1.30 per drink
Almost $300 savings for the year!

Sidenote: Keep in mind that the prices I have listed were accurate at the time of my post. I’ve noticed they fluctuate up and down, so your results may vary slightly.