Coffee Ratio LabCoffee Cost Calculator: Home Coffee vs Café — How Much Could You Save?
Home-brewed coffee usually costs a fraction of a café drink: with a 12 oz (340 g) bag at $14 and 15 g per cup, each cup costs about $0.62 in coffee, versus $5 or more for a café latte. Enter your own prices below to see your cost per cup, yearly spend, yearly savings and how many days your equipment takes to pay for itself.
Estimates for planning only. Home cost = coffee per drink (bag price ÷ bag size × grams used) + milk/sugar. Savings include the one-off equipment cost in year one.
What does a cup of coffee cost at home?
The coffee in a home-brewed cup is simple math: bag price ÷ bag size × grams per cup. A 12 oz (340 g) bag costing $14, used at 15 g per cup, makes about 22 cups — roughly $0.62 per cup in coffee. Add milk and sugar if you use them.
| Bag | Price | Grams per cup | Coffee cost per cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 oz (340 g) | $10.00 | 15 g | $0.44 |
| 12 oz (340 g) | $18.00 | 15 g | $0.79 |
| 2 lb (907 g) | $22.00 | 15 g | $0.36 |
| 5 lb (2.27 kg) | $55.00 | 18 g (espresso) | $0.44 |
Ways to cut your coffee cost further
- Weigh your coffee — heaped scoops waste more than you think. See grams per tablespoon.
- Buy whole beans in larger bags and freeze extra portions — check timing with the freshness calculator.
- Make café drinks at home with a moka pot and frother — see moka pot vs espresso machine.
- Iced coffee instead of cold brew uses less coffee per glass — see cold brew vs iced coffee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cup of coffee cost at home?
Typically between about $0.30 and $0.80 in coffee per cup, depending on bag price and how much you use, plus any milk.
How much can I save by making coffee at home?
Replacing one café drink a day, five days a week, often saves $1,000 or more per year after equipment costs at typical U.S. café prices. Use the calculator above with your own prices.
Is it cheaper to buy coffee beans or ground coffee?
Prices are similar per kilo, but whole beans stay fresh longer, so you waste less.
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