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83% of Americans drink coffee according to the National Coffee Association’s 2013 online survey. That’s up from 78% last year and more than any other country in the world.
How much do we pay for coffee? That is really hard to figure since:
1) We drink different size cups and make it different strengths. It used to be a cup of coffee was 6oz. Now a cup of coffee is at least 8 ounces with mugs and to-go cups routinely being 12-18 ounces.
2) There are many ways to make your coffee. Home-brewing gadgets and single-serve coffee makers are very popular, as are gourmet beans and coffeehouses.
3) Coffee drink sales are increasing while drinking traditional coffee is dropping. Last year nearly 1/3 of US adults were drinking a gourmet coffee each day. This includes coffees such as lattes and espresso along with custom blends of exotic beans.
Liz Breuer, an ISU dietetics student, and I decided to compare prices. Check out the coffee prices we found in central Iowa.
| Ounces per container | Cost | Cost for 12 ounces | One Coffee a day for a year | ||
| Brewed Coffee* | |||||
| Cameron’s ground flavor coffee | 12 | $ 6.99 | $ 0.41 | $ 150.08 | |
| Cameron’s bulk coffee | 12 | $ 6.74 | $ 0.40 | $ 144.71 | |
| HyVee Whole Bean Coffee | 12 | $ 6.69 | $ 0.39 | $ 143.64 | |
| Starbucks ground coffee | 12 | $ 8.99 | $ 0.53 | $ 193.02 | |
| Dunkin Donuts Coffee | 12 | $ 7.38 | $ 0.43 | $ 158.45 | |
| Panera ground Coffee | 12 | $ 8.29 | $ 0.49 | $ 177.99 | |
| Folgers coffee flavored | 11.5 | $ 5.39 | $ 0.32 | $ 115.73 | |
| Folgers coffee plain (on sale) | 33.9 | $ 7.88 | $ 0.17 | $ 61.20 | |
| Single Serve | |||||
| Cameron’s single serve 12 cups $7.49 | 12 K cups | $ 7.49 | $ 0.62 | $ 227.82 | |
| 8 O’clock (Keurig) 12 K cup packs $6.99 | 12 K cups | $ 6.99 | $ 0.58 | $ 212.61 | |
| Green Mountain (Keurig) 12 K cup packs $8.29 | 12 K cups | $ 8.29 | $ 0.61 | $ 222.85 | |
| 35 K cup assortment mail order including shipping | 35 K cups | $ 27.99 | $ 0.79 | $ 288.35 | |
| Coffee by the Cup | |||||
| Starbucks 12 oz. with one pump hazelnut | 12 | $ 1.77 | $ 1.77 | $ 646.05 | |
| with three pumps hazelnut | 12 | $ 2.30 | $ 2.30 | $ 839.50 | |
| Casey’s gas station | 12 | $ 1.09 | $ 1.09 | $ 397.85 | |
| Panera^ | 16 | $ 1.99 | $ 1.49 | $ 543.85 | |
| Butterfinger Frappuccino^ | 16 | $ 4.35 | $ 3.26 | $ 1,189.90 | |
| * Costs calculated estimating 12 oz. of coffee would yield 17-12 ounces cup^ Costs calculated from 16 oz. price | |||||
I’m one of those 83% who drink coffee and I am especially fond of hazelnut flavored coffee. If I really want to splurge I have a skim milk latte. I admit I haven’t tried the other specialty coffees because I just can’t get past the cost and the calories.
According to the Mayo clinic, the health benefits of drinking coffee in moderate amounts outweighs the risks. However, added fat and sugar in some drinks can make them unhealthy.
If you want to know more about brewing and storing coffee, roasting types, or recipes check out the National Coffee Association’s web site.
