Insider Tips from a Barista to Save Money at Coffee Shops

Are you paying too much for your Cuppa Joe?

I am a certified barista with the International Academy of Specialty Coffee and spent over 6 years working as a store manager for various coffee shops. My years of experience have taught me that there are definitely ways to avoid the steep coffee shop prices. Here are 10 of my favorite tips and tricks.

(Photo: pixabay.com)

1. Order Straight Shots of Espresso

This is the tip I personally use the most. You can customize the amount of caffeine you want to consume by ordering a single, doppio (double), triple, or quad espresso. You can then doctor it up on the condiment bar to your liking. I usually just add a little cream, but you could mix in a pack of sugar as well.

(Photo: pixabay.com)

2. Order Shots over Ice for a Cold Treat

This tip is similar to the one above - but allows you to enjoy a cold beverage instead. Simply take the shots that have been poured over ice and add milk or cream to your liking. This comes out tasting almost identical to an iced latte - but usually has more caffeine and a much smaller price tag. Here is a drink I got earlier today. Shots over ice with a little cream!

3. Order a Hot Chocolate with Shots on the Side

Are you really craving a mocha with whipped cream? There is a cheaper way to make that happen - but you HAVE to order it as two separate drinks. If you ask the barista to add shots to your hot chocolate - they will see through that 100% of the time and will charge you for a mocha. Simply order the amount of shots you would like as one beverage, and a hot chocolate as a separate beverage. I like my coffee strong, so I usually order a "kids hot chocolate" which is an 8 oz drink and then add three or four shots to it. Kids hot chocolates tend to be pretty inexpensive as well because coffee shops want to encourage parents to order hot cocoas for all of their kiddos.

(Photo: pixabay.com)

4. Sub Out Simple Syrup for a Flavored Syrup

Simple Syrup is basically sugar that has been boiled in water and cooled to make a syrup. Most coffee shops do not charge to add simple syrup to a beverage because it is almost like adding a pack of sugar. The liquid consistency helps it to spread more evenly throughout the drink - especially in cold beverages. If you like sweeter coffee drinks, switching to simple syrup could save you $.50-.75 a drink.

(Photo: Google)

5. Sauces Cost More than Syrup

If you really love to have flavorings in your drinks such as vanilla or hazelnut, sticking to syrups vs. sauces can save you money. Sauces are thicker flavorings like chocolate, white chocolate, caramel and pumpkin spice. These tasty sauces will often cost at least double that of a liquid syrup like vanilla. Do you usually order drinks with two flavors like a a coconut mocha or white chocolate peppermint latte? Most coffee shops have an up charge for this - even if they are doing half the flavor on each. At this point, you are likely paying about $1.50 more than a plain latte.

(Photo: Google)

6. Order a Coffee Misto

Not everyone can just order shots and add their own cream, because the fluffy, creamy foam is what they crave! Don't worry, I have a good tip for you too. Coffee Misto's are basically drip coffee that are topped with steamed milk and foam. If you want it to taste like a flavored latte, ask for simple syrup or pay the up-charge to get your favorite flavor. In the end, you are still saving quite a bit of money.

(Photo: pixabay.com)

7. Order a Secret, Off-Menu Size

Most coffee shops list a 12oz drink as their smallest size - but they actually have an 8oz available as well! At Starbucks, this is called a "short" compared to the 12oz "tall". Generally, you will get the same amount of coffee, but less milk and flavor. This allows you to treat yourself to your favorite beverage at a lower cost. I would recommend double checking this before ordering - just in case your particular coffee shop charges differently.

(Photo: Google)

8. Follow your Favorite Coffee Shops on Social Media

It is not uncommon for a coffee shop to run a promotion or sale that they only post online. For example, the photo below was posted by a coffee shop chain in my area. They decided to run a customer appreciation event and make any 12oz drink only $.99. The promotion only ran for one day and I was able to stop by and score a cheap cup of coffee on my way to work.

(Photo: The Woods Coffee)

9. Ask about Free Drip Refills

Even if you ordered an espresso based drink, you may be able to still get free drip refills if you are sitting there. Some Starbucks locations actually allow you to leave and come back later in the day for a $.50 refill! You just have to show them your receipt. This may still be a good idea even if you don't want any more coffee that day. Consider bringing the drip refill home, putting it in the fridge and pouring it over ice for a nice coffee treat the next day.

(Photo: pixabay.com)

10. Go with a Friend and Split a Large Drink

Are you really craving an expensive drink like a frappuccino? Ordering a Venti (24oz) is significantly cheaper than order two tall (12oz)drinks, and you are getting the same amount of beverage. Simply ask for an extra cup and split up evenly.

(Photo: Free B'ham - WordPress)

Thanks for reading my tips on how to save money when going out for coffee. I hope you found them helpful! If you have any other great tips that I missed - please share in the comments below. Stay caffeinated folks.

(Photo: San Francisco Bay Coffee)