Okay, I’m a value-conscious “coffeeholic” and snooty connoisseur all wrapped up in one: I appreciate good quality coffee and my caffeine fix in the morning, but I don’t want the over-priced bitter over-roasted swill that passes as coffee either! I’m conflicted since I want to support local independent coffee bars/cafes, but I don’t want to spend a fortune. Your priorities change when you get married and have children so fancy coffees at luxury coffee shops are not always an option. Try to save money by making your coffee or your Java at home. Next time, skip the line at the local coffee shop and make your own. There are lots of methods of making great coffee and I will share some great products.
Chain coffee shops
Do I have to join the crowds of people at the popular coffee fast food store chain for my coffee fix, or can I explore other options? I visit chain stores occasionally for convenience or impulse when I am on the road. Luckily, many independent coffee shops and bars roast their beans. If I walk a little further off the main road, I receive more personal attention and meet knowledgeable baristas in a cozy and friendly atmosphere. I pay more than at the typical fast-food coffee chains, but the products are usually more thoughtful and quality-driven.
Support Independents!
Indulge in great gourmet coffee and support your local independent coffee shop. Remedy Cafe is one of my favourites. They brew your favourite coffee in many different ways and serve Middle-Eastern and East-Indian-inspired food and fresh baked goods every day. They don’t bring in frozen baked goods from some unknown warehouse! Transcend Coffee is another great specialty coffee shop and roastery that draws a young and trendy crowd of College/ University students. I feel out of place as a middle-aged family man with a child in tow. Another one of my favorite coffeehouses is Good Earth which is a nationwide chain.
Perks and incentives
Another thing to consider is reward points and incentives to lure you in with their talons — competitive coffee chains like Tim Hortons, Second Cup and Starbucks use an app for mobile purchases and/or reward stars or points. Remember the classic coffee cards where you collect stamps from drink purchases? If you are tech-savvy, this is convenient and easy to use. This also lets businesses track and collect data from customers — you pay with your privacy for fast, flexible rewards and the convenience of payment. The potentially addictive mobile app with the reward program benefits the coffee shop more than you. Don’t fall for it!
Make your coffee at home
I drink fresh coffee for pure satisfaction and enjoyment and that means doing it yourself. More economical and more control of what you are consuming! There is a plethora of choices for brewing coffee and the key thing is to do a bit of experimentation to get it right. There is an art and science to brewing great coffee so follow these key factors: use locally sourced fair trade, organic beans, a good conical/burr grinder and get the proper coffee/water ratio. A great burr grinder I recommend for different coffee methods is Cuisinart Supreme Grind. You can find it on Amazon here. Having a decent machine or apparatus does help, but believe it or not, you spend as little as $20. You don’t need an expensive Nuova Simonelli Aurelia semi-automatic espresso machine that commercial coffee shops use.
Lots of economical choices
A French Press, percolator, siphon, cheap drip coffee machine or Moka Pot will do the trick! Depends on what kind of coffee you want: traditional black coffee, espresso or somewhere in between. This year, Flash Cold Brews have become popular. The good thing is most drinks can be emulated without expensive machines or equipment. Are you on the run to get out the door or don’t mind waiting for the “perfect” brew? I touched on 5 options for brewing coffee, but there are plenty more.
Aeropress– My favourite at work and when I am on the go! This portable coffee maker with a chamber, plunger, and filters is great for single use. Uses medium-fine grind coffee or espresso coffee. This affordable manual brewing system produces a remarkably rich, clean strong coffee with a plunger-style system. Less bitterness and acidity plus no grounds left in your cup! *Aerobie is the company that makes this innovative product and it can be purchased on Amazon.
French Press- The coffee is dense and heavy being coarse ground, yet it has its sort of elegance. Takes a little more time and often leaves sediment in the cup. Bodum is the most popular product.
Pour Over- I love it! Takes about 4-5 minutes. Fun, simple and cost-effective way to enjoy fresh roasted gourmet coffee in a cup in the form of a cone. Brewing means finding the right combination of grind size (coarser or finer), recipe (ratio of coffee to water), and brew time. Chemex is one of my favourites.
Moka Pot – produces a rich, authentic espresso in just minutes, but make sure you get the original Italian one! has a distinctive eight-sided shape similar to an old-style peculator. I recommend the 6-cup espresso maker version, but this unique limited edition one is a keepsake. This *Bialetti Limited Edition Caffe Mercanti Black was created along with PIAZZA MERCANTI, the famous Italian manufacturer of coffee products. It can be found on Amazon.
Drip Coffee Maker– Last resort when I need to make lots of coffee for many guests. The key is freshly roasted beans with the right grind, and water/coffee ratio and have a thermal carafe so it stay hot and no prolonged exposure to the air (oxidizing will make it bitter!)
Coffee has health benefits
Like red wine, sometimes coffee gets a bad rap so it is important to get the facts. Coffee contains over 1000 biologically active compounds, but perhaps the most interesting is the active compound (polyphenol) named chlorogenic acid or CGA. Coffee with higher amounts of CGA is good for you, according to the latest statistics.
Coffee Can Help You Burn Fat and improve physical Performance- helps slow the absorption of carbohydrates and acts as a stimulant. Have a shot or cup of coffee before doing an aerobic exercise to see if you notice the difference.
- Coffee May Drastically Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes- Suggests that certain components in coffee protect against type 2 diabetes, but depends on the study. One study at Harvard claims people who increased the amount of coffee they drank each day by more than one cup over four years had an 11% lower risk for type 2 diabetes.
- Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s- help maintain cognitive functions, especially in elders and lower the risk for common neurodegenerative conditions, i.e. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
- Coffee May Be Extremely Good for Your Liver- suggests that the compounds in coffee and tea exert a protective effect on liver tissue, which is the filtration hub for our bodies. In addition to liver, it may reduce the number of cases of neurological diseases, various cancers and any-cause mortality.
- Coffee May Decrease Your Risk of Premature Death- One study finds that drinking 2 -4 cups a day is associated with an overall lower risk of death, particularly among middle-aged drinkers.
- Coffee Is Loaded With Nutrients and Antioxidants- Many of the nutrients in the coffee beans do make it into the final drink, which contains a decent amount of vitamins and minerals.
In the end, it comes down to choice!
Drinking coffee in moderation has many health benefits. To preserve the health benefits, I suggest you cut back on granulated refined sugar, 18% cream or anything unhealthy in your coffee! Edmonton, like most urban cities, still relies mostly on chains, and people choose coffee based on convenience and impulse. I support local independents with warm, friendly atmospheres that encourage Edmontonians to walk more. To save money, try making coffee regularly at home using different methods. Look for organic coffee bean producers that support fair trade and sustainability. Do you make your coffee or buy it at a coffee shop? Leave a comment.
*Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission. I appreciate your support!
