At some point down the road, you are going to start wondering whether you should start grinding your own coffee or continue buying it pre-ground. More and more coffee aficionados swear by grinding their own beans fresh. So, is it cheaper to grind your own coffee?
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Is It Cheaper to Grind Your Own Coffee?
Yes, grinding your own coffee can be cheaper in the long term. This is because pre-ground coffee beans tend to lose their flavor faster than whole beans, which means you will have to keep replacing your supply of ground coffee. By buying whole beans and grinding them yourself, you will always have fresh coffee on hand.
Of course, there are some tradeoffs to be considered. For instance, buying a quality coffee grinder can be expensive upfront. Additionally, grinding your own beans takes a bit more time than simply scooping out some pre-ground coffee. However, if you are on a budget and are willing to put in a bit of extra effort, grinding your own coffee can save you money in the long run.
Why Grinding Your Own Coffee Is Cheaper
One of the biggest reasons why grinding your own coffee is cheaper is that pre-ground coffee tends to lose its flavor faster than whole beans. This means you will have to keep replacing your supply of ground coffee, which can be expensive over time.
By contrast, whole coffee beans can last for a month without losing too much of their flavor. This means you won’t have to keep buying new supplies of coffee beans as often, which can save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
In addition, grinding your own coffee gives you more control over the final product. You can choose how coarse or fine you want your beans ground, which allows you to tweak the flavor of your home-brewed coffee to get exactly the taste that you want.
The Cost of Grinding Your Own Coffee Versus Buying Pre-ground Coffee
When it comes to cost, you shouldn’t just consider the money factor. The cost can also come in the form of time and the quality of your coffee. That said, let’s look at how whole beans and pre-ground coffee compare in terms of:
- Price
- Quality
- Shipping
- Equipment
Price
Generally, there is not much difference in the price between whole beans and pre-ground coffee. For example, Starbucks sells 12-ounce packs of both pre-ground and whole beans coffee at around $8. La Colombe also sells the same amount of pre-ground and whole beans coffee for about $13.
Depending on the quality, some brands might price their pre-ground coffee higher or lower than whole beans. However, the price difference is negligible in most cases.
Quality
When it comes to quality, whole beans coffee almost always wins. This is because coffee beans start to lose their flavor as soon as they are ground. This means that you can buy your coffee beans at the same amount you would have bought pre-ground coffee and get a richer flavor.
Pre-ground is also said to come with additives that can impact the taste of your coffee.
Shipping
Pre-ground coffee is generally cheaper to ship than whole coffee beans because they are smaller in size. If you are buying coffee online, this can make a difference in the overall price.
However, if you can get whole beans from your local shop, you can offset the shipping costs and enjoy high-quality coffee.
Equipment
Grinding your own coffee means you will need to invest in a coffee grinder. A good quality coffee grinder can cost anywhere from $20 to $1000.
If you are on a budget, you can find manual coffee grinders for as little as $10. However, these might not give you the same consistency as more expensive electric grinders.
On the other hand, if you are buying pre-ground coffee, you don’t need any extra equipment apart from the coffee maker.
Why You Should Grind Your Own Coffee
While pre-ground coffee is cheaper in terms of shipping, equipment, and time, I still think the real deal is in grinding your own coffee.
Here is why:
- You have control over quality and taste. You can avoid additives that come with pre-ground coffee.
- You choose the type of beans you want to use
- You get to choose the right grind size for your coffee maker
- It’s cheaper in the long run
- You can get fresh coffee every time
- You can experiment with different flavors and blends
Related Questions
Do You Get More Coffee With Whole Beans or Ground?
Coffee from whole beans might be less than the same amount of pre-ground coffee after grinding. This is because when coffee is grounded they are reduced in size making them less. You might also lose some of the coffee while grinding.
How Long Does It Take To Grind My Own Coffee?
It depends on the grinder you are using. For manual grinders, it can take about 2 minutes to grind one cup of coffee. Electric grinders will do the job much faster.
Conclusion
Grinding your own coffee gives you more control over the quality, taste, and freshness of your brew. While it might take a little more time and effort than pre-ground coffee, it’s worth it in the long run. You can also have a lot of fun experimenting with different flavors and blends.
