A Perfect Morning Routine
For the past year, my routine was simple. I got up, got dressed, went to a coffee shop, and then proceeded with the rest of my day. Going to a coffee shop was as integral to my day as brushing my teeth. Something about having this be my first morning stop was both calming and motivating. Starting the day with a coffee run kept me grounded and it always pushed me to be productive and get through the day. Coffee, espresso to be exact, was really what made me get out of bed in the morning, and in many ways, it still is. While this coffee shop morning routine was always seemingly necessary to me, was it truly sustainable for me when I really thought about it? Keep reading to see what I truly learned from by going to coffee shops every day for the past year.
Speaking of coffee shops, read What’s Best In La Colombe? (Is It Really Colombian?) to see what La Colombe you would enjoy.
Go-To Coffee Shop Orders
I’ll start by giving some important context and describe my perfect coffee shop order.
Some days I would be looking for a quick, on-the-go option, which leads me to the Dunkin’ drive-through. Other mornings I would go sit and work at a quaint coffee shop across the street from me called Gimme Coffee. At Dunkin’ my order was the same each time, a medium iced latte with almond milk and an extra shot of espresso. In the fall season, I would sometimes be quite basic and add a pump or two of pumpkin. At Gimme, I got a salted maple iced latte with oat milk and an extra shot of espresso.
The two consistent key aspects here are extra espresso and an iced drink. As unpopular an opinion as this is, there is nothing more unappealing to me than hot coffee. And that extra shot…that extra shot was key. Whether or not it made a real difference, who knows, but I was convinced I needed that extra shot each and every day to make it through. Some days I could be caught drinking a Starbucks cold brew, but otherwise, my order was as consistent as my morning routine coffee runs.
Coffee Shop Spending Gone Wrong
Whether it was the Dunkin’ drive-through or Gimme coffee, I found myself spending almost $6/day on my espresso-packed latte. That meant about $42/ week and $2352/year. It seemed like such a harmless and necessary little purchase, but it added up in the sneakiest way. Calculating my spending really made me reflect on this coffee spending habit. This was a hit to my bank account that I, and most others in their early 20s, simply can not afford. To be honest, I am still learning how to think long-term when it comes to how to spend money. And this, the impulsive need for the daily thrill of coffee consumption, is a prime example of me not thinking long term.
Read 5 Ways to Stop Spending So Much Money on Coffee for more.
Recreating Routine At Home
So, for me, what I learned from my coffee shop addiction was that I needed to recreate this same thrill at home, at least for most of the week. I can still go have my $6 lattes and coffee shop moments, but it can’t be an integral part of my daily routine. To combat this issue and start a new chapter, I started making espresso-packed lattes myself. To be fair, perfecting my recipe took some time, but now I have mastered my latte. I am now driven out of bed each day just to prepare it for myself. I was terrified the answer would have to be giving up espresso altogether, which probably would be healthy to do at some point, but making it myself was the perfect solution.
If you are looking for a quality and cheap espresso maker, I recommend the Moka Pot. It is the classic Italian way to quickly making a pot of espresso.
Finding A Good Balance
So, should you go to a coffee shop every day?
The answer should probably be no. That being said, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go a few times a week at the very least! If going to a coffee shop is an integral part of your routine, if it what keeps you mentally stable, or if it is what makes you most productive, then it can be worth every penny. It is important to just stop and reflect on how necessary it is for you.
I saw how much stability that morning routine brought me, but I also managed to find a way to bring that same thrill of routine and productivity into my home and it has saved me a ton of money in the end. In many ways getting to make the coffee myself, and just to my liking, makes it even more rewarding. And now, when I do go back to get my classic $6 Dunkin’, it is all the more exciting and delicious.
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