When I was in high school, I was introduced to the Daily Iced Coffee Club. Soon, I was unable to adequately complete a school day without downing a medium iced coffee with cream and sugar. (My high school palate demanded that my coffee taste like ice cream.)
Before entering my place of learning, I had to take a “morning run” to the Dunkin Donuts down the street. Every few visits or so, I’d a wee gifty from my Dunkin app rewarding me with a free drink. And the world was whole.
I continued this pattern for over eight years. I’m a Dunkin Donuts connoisseur. I know when my favorite seasonal flavors come out, I test their new menu items. I most certainly Run On Dunkin.
Until they betrayed me.
Dunkin made it so you gotta spend $90 for one free drink.
As if this weren’t blasphemous enough, you have to spend $15 to receive a free order of hashbrowns – regularly valued at $1.55.
I can notsee how this is a deal in any way, shape, or form. It used to be that potentially you could get any drink for free. But now they’re divided into Crafted Drinks vs. Premium Sips to rob you even further.
But at least their free drinks include oat milk now, I guess.
But this doesn’t even make it excusable because why on God’s green earth am I paying $0.85 for a shot of oat milk in my coffee? A carton of oat milk costs a few dollars, whereas a full week’s worth of oat milk in your Dunks totals around $6.
I write this as I sip an iced matcha latte from Dunkin.
Okay, so I’m not saying eradicate Dunkin Donuts …but indeed. I just built my own home coffee bar. These days, six days a week I save money by making coffee at home. And one day a week, I get Dunkin, as a little treat.
Plus, it’s about that time of year when we switch out iced to hot coffee. What with plummeting temperatures and cozy fall vibes, we crave a warm drink to really put us in that autumnal mood. There’s something about a mug of black coffee that looks – and smells – so comforting in a way iced coffee could never.
So, building your very own at-home coffee bar is perfect for these colder months. Inhale that robust scent of freshly brewed coffee as it wafts through your house for a wake-up serotonin boost.
So cozy on up with a mug of coffee and a fine book — and avoid those abysmal rewards systems. ere are my coffee bar must-haves:
Coffee Pot
The obvious, the necessary. Buy a 12-cup coffee pot like this one and stick it in the fridge overnight. This way, you can have a lot of coffee prepped and it’s cold. My other fave feature is to time the coffeemaker to brew at 6:30 AM, so I wake up to the smell and a fresh, hot pot.
Coffee Syrups
If you like to add a little flavor to your coffees, Torani Syrups are the elite choice. A ton of coffee shops use these syrups, they come in a million flavors, and they’re affordable! At $5 a bottle, these will last you forever and are a great addition to your coffee bar.
Bar Cart
A bar cart is the perfect place to store all of your coffee accessories without taking up space on your counters. The Adornments Gold Metal Serving Cart from Walmart is my choice because it’s only $60 (!!) and matches a trendy neutral aesthetic.
Mason Jars & Straws
I keep every single thing for my coffee bar in these mason jars: grounds, tea bags, matcha, etc. Then I keep a few cups on the side for drinking purposes so it’s multi-functional.
Having metal straws is good for the environment, and convenient so you don’t have to keep re-purchasing plastics.
This set of 16 is colorful and gives you a good amount where you won’t have to keep reusing the same one. And yes…I keep my straws in mason jars, too.
French Press
If you love the taste of coffee and want a strong brew, the Bodum French Press is for you. It’s an environmentally sustainable method of brewing coffee as well as the best way to get the most taste and aroma from your grounds.
Espresso Machine
I love a good latte, so an espresso machine is on my wishlist. This CYETUS Espresso Machine is only $119, but will make strong and delicious coffee. Plus, an espresso machine uses the least amount of grounds so you can save over time.
You don’t need to pay $8 a day for a coffee when you can make it at home. Your home is begging for the fresh scent of coffee in the morning.
