BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Coffee Economy Affecting Coffee Habits

Tim Hortons and Caribou say traffic is down, but sales of beans and ground coffee are up. They suggest people are making their own coffee more and buying less due to the economy.

I have always preferred my own coffee so, on a daily basis I drink at home and carry my thermos to work. I generally buy coffee as an occasional treat, like a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato or a Panera Bread Caramel Latte.

I know that if I were buying a $3 or $4 cup every morning, I would be rethinking my strategy right now.

Has the economy changed your coffee habits?

Yesterday the manager of our local Starbucks was telling me that their sales are way off from last year this time.

An interesting thing - she said that sales by youngsters (hot chocolate) and teens getting their coffee on the way to school are up.

Must be that youthful optimism!

I never bought expensive coffees except once in a while when I travel. It's hard to find a good cup of coffee when you're traveling.

I did notice tho that the starbucks coffee beans at Costco doubled in price almost overnight last spring. I used to buy it and grind it at home but switched to a less expensive brand.

Well I work at Dunkin Donuts and we still get hammered with teh coffee customers. I have customers that come in 3 or 4 times a day every day during my shift to get a $2.60 cup of coffee. I swear no one makes coffee at home anymore in my area. LOL

I think the reason for the youthful coffee cup fills is because it isn't their money. They are most likely telling parents they need X amount of money for whatever.

Most people I know have cut that out of their expenses by about 1/2. A trick I've heard is to save the commercial cups and fill up at home. It gives you the sense you are treating yourself which really isn't that hard if you purchase the beans and grind them yourself. There are a lot of comparable brands these days out there competing for the take home slot.

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Elleise
Clairvoyance Editor

I think many young people who have jobs also see coffee like Starbucks as a necessity. I've noticed my step daughters and their friends think things like manicures and pedicures are necessities too. People in their 20's and 30's haven't really seen real economic bad times in their lifetime.

There are also lots of mocha mix type products you can get at the grocery store and mix them with your own coffee. I have a cappuccino french vanilla one by Hills Bros that's really good added to my own coffee.

Sometimes I take the coffee left in the pot, add ice and flavored coffee creamer and put it in blender. It's delicious. Add a little Kalua and it's REALLY good.

Sometimes when DH isn't looking I substitute store brand coffee for the stuff in the red plastic canister. I buy it in the brick and pour it into the plastic canister. If he doesn't see it he doesn't know the difference.

Yesterday the red plastic canister was $10. in a grocery store near us! Even the fair trade coffee was cheaper than that. I can't afford to buy the big brand very often.