Getting Carafe-ty: Tips & Tricks to Save on Your Next Coffee Run
Hello again! For this week’s post, I wanted to provide some
ways you can stay thrifty and caffeinated,
because coffee costs definitely add up. For me, even when I attempt to avoid
buying coffee for the week, it doesn’t take long for group influence to sway my
decision-making processes (Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 157). It always seems
like just as I’m about to make coffee at home, my friends propose a coffee run.
So, if you haven’t kicked your coffee spending habits just
yet, here are some of my lessons in being a value-conscious consumer that will
hopefully help you maximize what you get out of your coffee purchases (Babin
& Harris, 2016, p. 115).
Disclaimer: I have to give credit to my mom (shown here Starbucks HQ) for some of
these tips. After many years of being a Starbucks fanatic and stay-at-home mom,
she was persuaded by a local barista to apply. Naturally, she learned several
coffee tricks, most of which apply to most coffee shops. Needless to say, she
has served as the familial primary influence when it comes to my coffee buying
(Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 158).
(Un)Iced Coffee:
If you’ve ever watched a barista pour your iced coffee, you
may come to realize that your $3.00+ drink is actually 3 parts ice to 1 part
coffee. So, next time ask for light ice, or none at all. And if you just can’t
stand an ice-less iced coffee, just ask for a cup of ice on the side. I myself
have done this several times, and have yet to get turned down or charged. Because
I’m such a frequent coffee purchaser, I look for economic value when I buy
(Angell, 9/13/17), and this tactic helps me feel like I’m getting the most out
of my purchase.
Hot to Cold
I have become known among my friends as “the slowest coffee
drinker ever.” With that said, if you take a painfully long time to finish your
coffee like I do, use the above tip to help you on those day-long coffee shop
study sessions. If you order a hot coffee and it inevitably gets cold, don’t
throw it away! Ask for a cup of ice, pour your previously-warm drink over ice,
and just like that you have a “new” drink.
No, You Don’t Have to Pay $6.00 for that Latte:
I could not tell you how many times my mom has called me in
shock that a customer paid for a latte that cost them $7.00. If you’re willing
to somewhat forgo the hedonic value you might attain through ordering a fun,
~fancy~, flavored latte, try out this tip (Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 29).
Instead of your typical latte, order a regular cup of coffee with steamed milk.
If you want something on the sweeter side, ask for steamed coconut or almond
milk. Then head to the coffee bar for some cinnamon or nutmeg for even more
added flavor
Refills, Refills, Refills:
If you’re a quick coffee-drinker, or find yourself in cafes
for hours on end, get the most out of your first order by asking for a refill. Many
baristas might not even charge you, but even when they do, it should only set
you back about $0.50-$1.00 (in my experience). Starbucks, the category exemplar
in the coffee shop product category, charges $0.53 for a tall coffee or tea
refill (Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 87). Or, if you happen to be a “Gold
Status” Rewards member, refills are free. Make the most of your order and get
two cups for the price of one!
Get to Know Your Barista:
Make an effort to be friendly to the baristas you interact
with. Working in Seattle this summer, I got to know baristas at local shops,
and every so often they’d offer a free coffee or discount, since I had become a
“regular.” This is NOT to say that you should feign kindness for the sole hope
that the barista will cut you a deal. Rather, I just want to encourage to genuinely pay it forward via kindness,
patience, and a quick conversation. Their job requires a lot of emotional labor,
especially when many customers are often in a rush, or picky
with their drink orders (Babin & Harris, 2016, p. 106). So, be kind to your
barista, and you may get some kindness in return!
I hope you can carry these tips and tricks with you to your
next café visit! Stay tuned for my next post about how you can get even
thriftier with your coffee habits, as I feature ways to make your favorite
drinks at home!
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some other ways to save
on coffee: https://www.aol.com/article/2016/01/19/7-coffee-shop-hacks-to-help-you-save-big/21299703/
Thanks for reading!
References:
Angell, A. (2017, September 13). CB Chapter 2: Value. Lecture presented in University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Babin, B.J., & Harris, E. G. (2016). CB 7. Australia: South-Western.
Liz,
ReplyDeleteI was especially excited to read your blog as I (unfortunately) spend over $25 a week on coffee. My main go-to is Starbucks, and as a consumer with high brand loyalty, I deal with the high price for the product quality (Babin, 130). Even more then just for its utilitarian value of keeping caffeinated, Starbucks has become a part of my study routine as I always make sure to get a venti drink before I head to the library. Like you, I always ask for light ice and just add my own. Similarly, I have recently purchased the Starbucks K cups for my Keurig to help save my wallet. I usually pay somewhere around $21 for a box of 32 cups, equaling to about $0.65 cents for a coffee. Perhaps another explanation for my high affinity for Starbucks is the fact that the majority of my friends around me do as well. As a consumer good that is consumed in public, Starbucks and its brand name holds a lot of value (Angell, External Influence). For example, the walk from my sorority house to all my classes last year included a cut through through the Starbucks on South University. As members of my primary reference group, my girls in my sorority had group influence over my purchasing decision (Babin, 156). Further, I have attached an article that I found very interesting that seeks to understand other reasons - psychological ones - for why consumers purchase Starbucks. I especially enjoyed the part of your blog where you suggested building a relationship with the people you purchase from. I can not wait to see what you post next!
https://theadaptivemarketer.com/2014/09/01/buyer-psychology-customer-value-people-buy-starbucks-coffee/
Angell, A. (2017, October 2). External Influences. Lecture, Ann Arbor.
Babin, B. J. (2016). CB 7 (8th ed.). Cengage Learning
ReplyDeleteHi Liz!
I can really relate to your blog, as I too am an avid coffee drinker. You are extremely insightful in your analysis of group influence playing a role in a person’s decision-making process when it comes to buying coffee (Babin, 2016). Now that I think about it, I have one group project team that always decides to meet at a coffee shop- Starbucks, Espresso Royal, or Sweetwater Café. I never fail to purchase a cup of coffee at the meetings- no matter what time of day or how many other cups of coffee I have already had!
As a price conscious consumer, I am extremely grateful for your money saving tips! (Babin, 2016) These are ideas that I can actively put into place on my next coffee run. I especially am appreciative of the “(Un)iced Coffee” tip, as that is my go-to order. For your next blog, it could be interesting to explore some tips on how to make your own coffee at home, but in a fun and exciting way. You mentioned the hedonic value that value that you could get from ordering fancy lattes, such as the popular pumpkin spice latte during fall.
This Buzzfeed article explores some unique ways that consumers can drink their coffee: https://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/genius-new-ways-to-drink-your-coffee?utm_term=.giAOy68Ay#.jv7jrW97r. Personally, I am dying to try the Nutella Mocha Coffee!
Babin, B. J. (2016). CB 7 (8th ed.). Cengage Learning
www.buzzfeed.com