Time to be honest. How many times do you hit a Starbucks, Barneys, Peets or the local coffee house each week, each day? Do you know the hours for each, which ones are 24 hours, do you re-plan your travels around the drive throughs? Does the barista already have yours made w/o asking? Do you spend more than $100 a month, 200 . . .more? Know anyone that spends $500 or more a month? Not me but I do know one couple that did.
I get my drug 3 to 4 times a week, know where the drive throughs are in other cities and have been known to ride the mountain bike to the pool with one in hand.
I was in there early this morning. Starbuck’s oatmeal and a huge cup of coffee. Used my secret black Starbuck’s card to get a discount. I go about once a week. The people in there are always friendly. It’s a neighborhood hangout.
Then: When I lived in Seattle I would stop by the drive thru stand and get a triple Americano every work day. Quickest way to get lots of caffeine down in a short amount of time. There was a small side effect of twitching if I drank on an empty stomach though.
Now: 3 times a week at Starbucks. Triple short latte. Still LOTS of caffeine but with a little milk to smooth it out so it doesn’t eat my stomach.
Big corporate monster or not…I love Starbucks. I can count on having the same good bold coffee no matter where I am at in the world (of course, if a Starbucks is nearby). I usually go twice daily. Nothing fancy, just whatever the bold coffee is for the day. This is my only real vice and I am completely addicted. If I hear of a Starbucks within driving distance, while on vacation, I will make the extra effort to get there for a good cup.
Another place I really like is Caribou Coffee. If there were more of them, I would probably frequent them more than Starbucks.
I hit the Dunks across the plaza from the building where I work every morning during the week. Since there are so many DD’s in MA, it’s pretty easy to find one when I’m out and about and could use a coffee. Weekends I usually brew at home (Peets house blend).
I used to go to Timmy’s every day, sometimes 2x a day as they have good soup for lunch.
Now I live in the land of no Timmy’s and we only just got a Starbucks last year that happens to not be on my way to work, so maybe 1x a month if I remember to go the long way to work.
Have to say, the cash in my wallet stays there loads longer now.
I can honestly say i’ve never purchased anything from Starbucks. & the only thing i’ve ever tasted from there was some sort of an iced something-or-other my girlfriend had.
Starbucks only once a week when we head over to do the groceries for the week.
However, we do go to Costco and buy the 2.2 lbs bag of beans as it is the cheapest place to buy the beans and I have a large cup of Starbucks every single day and what seems to be a pot to myself on the weekend.
EDIT: forgot to mention that we have an Espresso machine at home as well and my wife is an ex Starbucks barista so she makes me Nonfat Vanilla Lattes whenever I want. Eggnog Lattes in the month of December are great. Much cheaper than going out to get them and my wife is hotter than most of the baristas at Starbucks so it is a win win for me.
I’m a Planet Starbucks hater, but I also love the triple shot americano. No other chain has espresso as good. Now I never give them MY money, but when a gigft card comes my way it doesn’t last very long.
We might go once a month at the most when we are out an about. We have a great drip coffee machine, an espresso machine and a French press at home. We have had all this for years. We buy beans and grind them however we want in a high quality burr grinder. Why pay $4 or more for something that I can make much better and for far less money ( way less than $1/cup) in the comfort of my home.
In the afternoon when I am in the office I like to have an Earl Grey tea - black with some lemmon in it. I make that in my office.
When travelling on the road we often bring the French Press and a small micro kettle and some ground coffee - in minutes we can have an amazing cup of coffee in the comfort of our hotel room.
I like Stabucks and other similar coffee shops, but it is a massive sink-hole for money!
OHHHHHHHHHH YEA Starbucks. Hell a friend of mine asked once if someone threw a starbucks at you during a ride would you drink it? Maybe!!! I go about three times a week and then brew at home as well.
None in the last month.
Actually I did not have a single drop of coffee in the last month. I have been sick and for whatever reason the taste of coffee (that I usually like) seems like arghhhhhh right now.
Otherwise I would go maybe once a week or every day on business trip (on the corporate card).
Daily, sometimes multiple times in the day. There are four or five of them within a two block radius from my work. I also know the location of all of them on the drive down to Xantusia.
I hate their regular coffee but love their Americano coffee (shots of expresso and hot water)…but at 240 mg of caffeine in a grande you have to be a bit careful.
As for how often, I managed to blow $100 this past month at Starbucks, I work on Wall St. and we have one in our building.
I work from home a lot, so I make my own coffee at home. When I go to client sites (which could be every once in a while, or everyday for 6 months) I usually hit up a dunkin donuts or starbucks on the way in.
THough… at starbucks, I just buy the drip coffee. $1.80 for a venti.
I’m so glad I’m not alone…I feel like the fiend around my office for my habits…turns out maybe I’m just the only single one w/o kids that has an extra $10-$15/wk for coffee.
Try to limit myself to once or twice a week. Nonfat vanilla lattes and a piece of the blueberry coffee cake (if I didn’t have breakfast). I had a drive-thru I was devoted to, but they screwed it up about 4 times in a month (syrup, espresso, milk…how friggin hard is that to screw up???) so I’m boycotting them. I wrote to corporate once then just said enough is enough. There’s one close to the house that’s not a drive-thru but has killer staff. When in Cali though, if I can hit a Peets I will daily.
BMAN, if your wife and espresso machine disappear in the middle of the night…I might’ve stolen her. Not sure what I can pry her away with (I’m a chick)…but surely I can think of something.
Well I get the best of both worlds. My wife is a barista at our local Starbucks so I get lots of good, bold coffee along with the convenience of making it at home. One of the current perks a Sbux employee gets is one pound of coffee per week. We have a good drip machine, a quality espresso machine (Rancilio’s Miss Silvia) and a french press at home so I have all of the tools to get my caffeine fix daily without draining my wallet.
I was in there early this morning. Starbuck’s oatmeal and a huge cup of coffee. Used my secret black Starbuck’s card to get a discount. I go about once a week. The people in there are always friendly. It’s a neighborhood hangout.
“secret black card” ? Do tell. Unless you’re talking about the one they are selling for $25, then its not so interesting…
I was in there early this morning. Starbuck’s oatmeal and a huge cup of coffee. Used my secret black Starbuck’s card to get a discount. I go about once a week. The people in there are always friendly. It’s a neighborhood hangout.
“secret black card” ? Do tell. Unless you’re talking about the one they are selling for $25, then its not so interesting…
I buy the $25 gift cards at COSTCO for $20 for an instant 20% off. I add my 10% military discount to that for a total of 28% off!!!