| Gourmet coffee consumers rarely consider the cost | | | | Even the rarest and most expensive coffeesold, the |
| of theirdaily coffee in terms of the expense to brew | | | | exotic Kopi Luwak, at $175 per pound, is stillless than |
| premium wholebean coffee at home (50 cents to 75 | | | | $1.75 per 6 ounce cup when brewed at home! Soif |
| cents) with prices ofa pound of gourmet coffee | | | | you have expensive tastes and want a 12 ounce |
| beans versus a two or three cupa day ($4.50 to | | | | mug ofthe rarest and most expensive coffee on the |
| $6.00) coffee drinking habit when purchasedat | | | | planet, youstill need only pay what some premium |
| premium coffee houses. A recent Washington Post | | | | coffee houses chargefor a latte ($3.50) for that rare |
| articlediscussed Seattle law students spending money | | | | privilege. |
| from theirstudent loans for Starbucks coffee across | | | | When consumers learn that they can purchase |
| the street fromthe Seattle University School of Law. | | | | gourmet wholebean coffee for between $10 to $18 |
| Erika Lim, director of career services at the law | | | | per pound, then freshgrind and brew at home for |
| school haslaunched a campaign to reduce coffee | | | | significantly less than gourmetcoffee companies |
| consumption by studentsattending the university on | | | | charge, many see home brewing premiumgourmet |
| student loan money. She pointsout that students are | | | | coffee as luxurious treat. Purchasing a thermosor a |
| spending education loans on luxurieslike latte instead | | | | large travel mug to take coffee with them from |
| of necessities like a loaf of bread. Thatborrowed | | | | homemakes drinking rich, fresh roasted coffee a |
| money takes years to repay and many students | | | | possibilityfor about one-seventh the cost of buying |
| don'tdo the math to see that study time with 2-3 | | | | that coffee fromexpensive and crowded coffee |
| cups of coffeeat Starbucks over 4 years can cost | | | | shops. |
| them significant sums -as much as $4500 in principle, | | | | Many so-called premium coffee houses keep their |
| interest and fees on theirstudent loan - over the | | | | coffeeheated on warmers after brewing, but this |
| course of their education. Anonline calculator has been | | | | practice causesthe flavor to turn bitter after less |
| posted for those interested incalculating their caffeine | | | | than an hour ofwarming. It is actually more likely you |
| expenses at: | | | | will get a richflavorful cup of coffee from an insulated |
| Gourmet Coffee drinkers have become accustomed | | | | thermos orinsulated type pump containers. Reheating |
| to paying $2or more per cup for fresh brewed | | | | coffee candestroy the flavor of good gourmet |
| coffees at Premium coffeehouses - and many | | | | coffee - just as quicklyas extensive warming. |
| sources are predicting those prices mayincrease to as | | | | Coffee purists prefer to make individual cups with a |
| much as $4 per cup soon due to expectedincreases | | | | coffeepress, fresh grinding beans for each cup and |
| in green coffee prices. But smart gourmet | | | | drinking theentire amount brewed before it turns cold |
| coffeeconsumers have long known that premium | | | | to get the maximumenjoyment from their beans. |
| coffee brewed at homecosts just 12 cents or so per | | | | Microwave a good cup of coffeethat has gone cold |
| cup, depending on preferencesfor coffee strength. | | | | and you'll see how much better it isfreshly brewed. |
| Many coffee producers recommend starting with 1 | | | | Using good clean, fresh water is essentialsince coffee |
| tablespoonof fresh ground gourmet coffee beans per | | | | is 99% water and bad tasting tap water canquickly |
| standard 6 ouncecup of water. Starbucks | | | | ruin even the best fresh ground beans. |
| recommends double that amount forstronger coffees | | | | You can enjoy great gourmet coffee more and pay |
| at 2 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup. A poundof | | | | less for theprivilege by starting with whole beans and |
| gourmet coffee (that is 16 Ounces or 1 Lb.) | | | | grinding themyourself with a $20 coffee grinder. |
| dividedby 1 1/2 Ounces comes to roughly 10 pots of | | | | Make only what you candrink or carry with you in a |
| 10 cups | | | | nice thermos or travel muginstead of reheating |
| (6 Ounce cups) equaling 100 cups for the cost of one | | | | coffee later. Use good tasting waterand keep your |
| poundof gourmet coffee beans. At the average of | | | | brewing equipment clean to prevent therancid |
| 1.5 tablespoonsper 6 ounce cup and average size of | | | | bitterness that can come from previous grounds |
| 12 ounce coffee mug,you can expect 50 cups of | | | | increvices. |
| home brewed coffee per pound ofgourmet beans! | | | | You can brew at home with fine gourmet coffee |
| Prices of premium gourmet coffee beans range | | | | beans, freshground and brewed in a French press |
| between $10and $18 per pound, making a cup of | | | | coffee maker, carry afancy thermos of great coffee |
| home-brewed gourmetcoffee, made fresh to your | | | | to work or school and enjoythe best coffee available |
| liking, cost only between .10cents and .25 cents per | | | | for far less money than you wouldspend at crowded |
| cup or between $1.00 and $2.00 perpot of coffee! | | | | and expensive premium coffee house. |
