My name is Holly and i'm a mocha latte addict - Page 2

[AuntNi]

Ooooh, pumpkin, what kind of machine do you have? I've had two of those Krups $60 ones, and within a couple years, the espresso started tasting like dirt. Plus, I'm such a klutz that I was always breaking the little caraffe.

[pumpkin]

I have a Gaggia Titanium.

You can easily spend much more, but I've been really happy with our purchase.

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by Selesai

You can still make one at home. We have an espresso maker, so my husband will make the espresso shots, add milk, and then lots of syrup. It actually works pretty well with regular coffee too.

But I understand the conundrum. I like the whipped cream, myself. I wonder if there is a way for you to make yourself a decadent drink without spending money. What about hot chocolate?

I totally agree. I do not have a mocha latte addiction or even a Starbucks problem, but when there is something I crave, I usually just search the 'net and make it myself. It is more enjoyable that way, too!

Yes, it does cost money, but only a small fraction of what you pay to buy it (plus the gas to drive to SB!).

[mtm]

Is the latte worth $2000 a year to you? 2000 with nothing to show for it. In 5 years you could have 10,000 to invest, pay off your house, take a faboo vacation or you could just keep buying those lattes. I'd make it a special treat, start with one a week then one every two weeks.

[p.s]

$ for latte + $1 for time and gas = $7 x 365 days ----> $2555

buy the best cappucino machine you can afford.
Buy Illy espresso beans.
Buy only organic whole milk (We've tried them all and I think Stoneyfield tastes best).
Get the best water purification system you can afford(we use aquasana. the water quality does make a difference).

Now you can make as many lattes as you want... for whomever you want.... whenever you want. Even in your underwear.

AND... your cappucinos will taste at least 5x better than ANY option at Starbucks.

and at the end of the year, you'll still have the machine.

[sbrinton]

I agree that it is actually a frugal thing to do to buy a good quality espresso machine!

For years, I had a krups machine that was messy and made mediocre espresso. Last fall, we bought a new Nespresso machine that has little sealed pods. I had used one of these when I lived in Europe years ago. The coffee is excellent and the machine is easy to use. Easy enough that my husband makes me a latte almost every day in bed! Nespresso also makes a milk frother that works great. I think we spent about $300 on the espresso machine and frother, but now my coffee habit costs about 50 cents a day instead of $3.

Although this still adds up a little, I cannot imagine life without coffee. Or wine, when I'm not pregnant.

[JenLove]

I started making my fancy stuff at home. I steam my milk on the stove and make strong coffee (about 2 tbsp per 1 cup) to use in my lattes.

I just posted about my pumpkin spice latte on my blog yesterday.

I bet if you steam a cup of milk with chocolate syrup and add it it to about a half cup-3/4 cup coffee and dab with whipped cream it would be comparable.

[madskye]

This might help...

I stopped drinking Starbucks drinks because once I left an almost full cup of their special cinnamon latte that they do at the holidays in my office over the weekend. On Monday, I went to throw it away and it came out of the cup in ONE gelatinous piece--like a can of cranberry sauce. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was really disgusting--I have no idea what they put in those things to give each drink "silky mouthfeel" but I haven't had one since.

[vm9799]

Originally Posted by mama2simon

Just a thought with the holidays approaching - maybe you could ask for latte gift cards. People tend to give those to me (know that I love coffee) and it makes a very nice treat . Good luck this month - I am with you on the challenge.

this is what i do. i'm a self professed starbucks-aholic! my drink of preference is the peppermint mocha! YUM!

so for everything from my birthday to mother's day to christmas, almost everyone in the family gets me a starbucks gift card which i then use all year long. i too used to get them like everyday (or more ), but i've started to only get one one my grocery shopping day.....it feels like more of a treat this way. i drop my kids off at school and hit starbucks on my way out to the stores. and let me tell you....i look SO foward to that drink each friday! lol! but i know i'm saving TONS-O-$$$ by cutting back to just once a week.

i do "fall off the wagon" from time to time though.......especially when out holiday shopping or out on a date with my husband and he wants a treat too. but i went from generally spending $25+ a week to $4.50.

you can do this!

[Crunchy*VT*Mom]

I don't like coffee or coffee ice cream NEARLY as much as those Starbucks Frappucino things..

But I find that if I drink my own coffee or have some coffee ice cream before going out where the Starbucks is then I at least have a running chance of getting past the counter without buying.

Sometimes I fail and end up having both the at-home-stuff and a Starbucks, but it at least takes an edge off the craving.

[jlpumkin]

I ask for Starbucks cards at Christmas. A couple of years ago DH gifted me a $20 milk frother. Best thing ever!!! Warm frothed milk, touch of coffee, some syrup and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top! Fabulous.

Back home my mom has a drive through starbucks very close. I always go way into debt... thankfully here, in the amount of time it takes for me to unload the littles to get inside - I have a change of heart.

[angelcollector1]

Holly if you want to try to make them yourself with an espresso maker and you live near me anywhere, I have one I received that I've never used. You're welcome to it.
BTW, I live in FL

[lotus.blossom]

We have an aerolatte milk frother and it makes a great latte! Just steam the milk on the stove (or in a microwave if you have one) and froth it up with some sugar and chocolate syrup and you have your mocha!

Of course the super expensive espresso machine is more of a long term solution. We would like to have one someday but teh aerolatte fills in that need for now!

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

One of my biggest problems with it is that i don't like coffee. Only lattes and only mocha ones...sigh

Does not compute. Lattes have coffee in them. In order for the coffee place to make your latte, they first make coffee.

[jocelyndale]

I love my lattes, too. I justify the expense with the claim that I'm supporting a local business.

Anyhow, I have never been able to justify the cost of an espresso machine itself because I love going for my daily walks with DS so very much and our counter space is so very limited. It's how we start the day--walk to the coffeeshop, caffeinate mommy, go find a playground or library.

I do, however, have a moka pot. I highly recommend buying a moka pot if you do need to save money. It will make something very similar to espresso. I bought a steel one at BB&B with a 20% off coupon. I think it was $40 before the discount. I also have a milk frother (battery powered), which is great for protein shakes and frothing milk. Ikea has 'em cheap, but I bought mine at BB&B with a coupon. (No local Ikea.)

We went to a park this morning. I didn't want to have to find parking near the beloved cafe, so I made my latte at home. And it's just as good. I might need to invest in a whipped cream canister + gas.

[lucyem]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

Does not compute. Lattes have coffee in them. In order for the coffee place to make your latte, they first make coffee.

I totally understand that. I have never been a big coffee drinker. Though LOVE coffee ice cream. Hand me most lattes and I could care less. A mocha latte on the other hand - yummy

[marisa724]

I have been forced to quit lattes entirely because my baby is sensitive to milk (sob)... but last year I decided to get my habit in check. It was becoming outrageous, because our supermarket had a Starbucks right inside the front door. I may not have been able to get out much with my toddler, but I was certainly making it as far as the supermarket a few times a week!

I bought a Starbucks gift card and made that my limit. A $20 card is five lattes, give or take. Once that was gone, I couldn't get more until I could add more $$ to my card.

My big scheme for adding more money was to use the "Coinstar" machine in the supermarket, the one that counts your change for you. On our machine (I haven't seen this on every one) there's an option to get your coins counted without a fee if you put the balance on a gift card. Starbucks is one of the options.

We keep our loose change in a jar in the kitchen, and every couple of weeks or so I would take the contents of the jar and add it to my giftcard. It usually worked out to about 1-2 lattes per week -- enough to satisfy my jones and keep it a 'treat'.

Now I have about $30 on a card in my wallet, waiting for the day when DS can tolerate the milk proteins again, maybe next year?

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by llamalluv

Does not compute. Lattes have coffee in them. In order for the coffee place to make your latte, they first make coffee.

NO it's espresso. i LOVE espresso. Dislike coffee and honestly only like espresso that's soaking in chocolate

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by marisa724

I have been forced to quit lattes entirely because my baby is sensitive to milk (sob)... but last year I decided to get my habit in check. It was becoming outrageous, because our supermarket had a Starbucks right inside the front door. I may not have been able to get out much with my toddler, but I was certainly making it as far as the supermarket a few times a week!

I bought a Starbucks gift card and made that my limit. A $20 card is five lattes, give or take. Once that was gone, I couldn't get more until I could add more $$ to my card.

My big scheme for adding more money was to use the "Coinstar" machine in the supermarket, the one that counts your change for you. On our machine (I haven't seen this on every one) there's an option to get your coins counted without a fee if you put the balance on a gift card. Starbucks is one of the options.

We keep our loose change in a jar in the kitchen, and every couple of weeks or so I would take the contents of the jar and add it to my giftcard. It usually worked out to about 1-2 lattes per week -- enough to satisfy my jones and keep it a 'treat'.

Now I have about $30 on a card in my wallet, waiting for the day when DS can tolerate the milk proteins again, maybe next year?

Did you know you can get them with soy milk That's what i do because my ds has dairy issues too!

[jocelyndale]

Originally Posted by marisa724

Now I have about $30 on a card in my wallet, waiting for the day when DS can tolerate the milk proteins again, maybe next year?

Is your card registered with Starbucks? Keep an eye on the balance. Some gift cards start losing $ in finance charges if you go 6-12 mo without using it.