Gourmet coffee consumers rarely consider the cost of their \rdaily coffee in terms of the expense to brew premium whole \rbean coffee at home (50 cents to 75 cents) with prices of \ra pound of gourmet coffee beans versus a two or three cup \ra day ($4.50 to $6.00) coffee drinking habit when purchased \rat premium coffee houses. A recent Washington Post article \rdiscussed Seattle law students spending money from their \rstudent loans for Starbucks coffee across the street from \rthe Seattle University School of Law.

Erika Lim, director of career services at the law school has \rlaunched a campaign to reduce coffee consumption by students \rattending the university on student loan money. She points \rout that students are spending education loans on luxuries \rlike latte instead of necessities like a loaf of bread. That \rborrowed money takes years to repay and many students don't \rdo the math to see that study time with 2-3 cups of coffee \rat Starbucks over 4 years can cost them significant sums - \ras much as $4500 in principle, interest and fees on their \rstudent loan - over the course of their education. An \ronline calculator has been posted for those interested in \rcalculating their caffeine expenses at:\rhttp://www.hughchou.org/calc/coffee.cgi

Gourmet Coffee drinkers have become accustomed to paying $2 \ror more per cup for fresh brewed coffees at Premium coffee \rhouses ¨C and many sources are predicting those prices may \rincrease to as much as $4 per cup soon due to expected \rincreases in green coffee prices. But smart gourmet coffee \rconsumers have long known that premium coffee brewed at home \rcosts just 12 cents or so per cup, depending on preferences \rfor coffee strength.

Many coffee producers recommend starting with 1 tablespoon \rof fresh ground gourmet coffee beans per standard 6 ounce \rcup of water. Starbucks recommends double that amount for \rstronger coffees at 2 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup. A pound \rof gourmet coffee (that is 16 Ounces or 1 Lb.) divided \rby 1 1/2 Ounces comes to roughly 10 pots of 10 cups \r(6 Ounce cups) equaling 100 cups for the cost of one pound \rof gourmet coffee beans. At the average of 1.5 tablespoons \rper 6 ounce cup and average size of 12 ounce coffee mug, \ryou can expect 50 cups of home brewed coffee per pound of \rgourmet beans!

Prices of premium gourmet coffee beans range between $10 \rand $18 per pound, making a cup of home-brewed gourmet \rcoffee, made fresh to your liking, cost only between .10 \rcents and .25 cents per cup or between $1.00 and $2.00 per \rpot of coffee! Even the rarest and most expensive coffee \rsold, the exotic Kopi Luwak, at $175 per pound, is still \rless than $1.75 per 6 ounce cup when brewed at home! So \rif you have expensive tastes and want a 12 ounce mug of \rthe rarest and most expensive coffee on the planet, you \rstill need only pay what some premium coffee houses charge \rfor a latte ($3.50) for that rare privilege.

When consumers learn that they can purchase gourmet whole \rbean coffee for between $10 to $18 per pound, then fresh \rgrind and brew at home for significantly less than gourmet \rcoffee companies charge, many see home brewing premium \rgourmet coffee as luxurious treat. Purchasing a thermos \ror a large travel mug to take coffee with them from home \rmakes drinking rich, fresh roasted coffee a possibility \rfor about one-seventh the cost of buying that coffee from \rexpensive and crowded coffee shops.

Many so-called premium coffee houses keep their coffee \rheated on warmers after brewing, but this practice causes \rthe flavor to turn bitter after less than an hour of \rwarming. It is actually more likely you will get a rich \rflavorful cup of coffee from an insulated thermos or \rinsulated type pump containers. Reheating coffee can \rdestroy the flavor of good gourmet coffee - just as quickly \ras extensive warming.

Coffee purists prefer to make individual cups with a coffee \rpress, fresh grinding beans for each cup and drinking the \rentire amount brewed before it turns cold to get the maximum \renjoyment from their beans. Microwave a good cup of coffee \rthat has gone cold and you'll see how much better it is \rfreshly brewed. Using good clean, fresh water is essential \rsince coffee is 99% water and bad tasting tap water can \rquickly ruin even the best fresh ground beans.

You can enjoy great gourmet coffee more and pay less for the \rprivilege by starting with whole beans and grinding them \ryourself with a $20 coffee grinder. Make only what you can \rdrink or carry with you in a nice thermos or travel mug \rinstead of reheating coffee later. Use good tasting water\rand keep your brewing equipment clean to prevent the \rrancid bitterness that can come from previous grounds in \rcrevices.

You can brew at home with fine gourmet coffee beans, fresh \rground and brewed in a French press coffee maker, carry a \rfancy thermos of great coffee to work or school and enjoy \rthe best coffee available for far less money than you would \rspend at crowded and expensive premium coffee house.

? Copyright 2005 http://www.TastesofTheWorld.net

Written by Mike Banks Valentine for Tastes of The World \rcoffee company, focusing on specialty gourmet coffees which \rare not readily available in the United States. Rare Gourmet \rCoffee is their business so they make shopping with them risk \rfree. "If you are happy tell a friend if you are not tell us"

http://www.tastesoftheworld.net/Coffee-Cost-Per-Cup.htm \rE-mail CustomerService@tastesoftheworld.net\rCall 1-877-895-2662