When my doctor recommended a cup of coffee a day to help with my IBS she would have never guessed she was creating a monster…a caffeine monster.  I used to hate coffee in High School and even college.  I didn’t discover the joy of an occasional cup of coffee with the girls until seminary.  Now I’m out of control; I’m addicted.

This summer I hit bottom.  I was super busy (true but an excuse), didn’t have flavors at home (so not true), or time to brew my own (stupidest excuse in the book).  Every morning I sent Hunni running to the coffee shop to pick up my iced soy latte with hazelnut.  You know it’s bad when the barista knows my order and makes it while he waits in line.  Hunni doesn’t mind this daily errand because he can pick up a Nantucket Nectar.  He’s obsessed with the Nantucket facts and wants to go visit.  Perhaps we’ll fly Sandpiper Air.

Going out for coffee is an experience.  That is why I love my CDNY blends.  Almost every meet up involves a coffee shop or grabbing coffee on the way to do something.

Coffee is about the art of the barista…

Or about the jazzy music or open mic nights as I relax (often on the computer) surrounded by the smell of fresh ground beans.  The local food doesn’t hurt either.

It’s all part of the experience.

The part of the experience that is not-so-friendly is the cost.  Let’s just say it isn’t budget friendly when you go as often as I do.  I’m a numbers nerd (yeah Calculus) as much as I’m a word-nerd so I estimated the cost for my summer coffee habit.

• $4.29 for super huge solo iced soy latte with a tiny bit of hazelnut syrup
• 1-2 coffees per day
• 2 crazy months fueled by caffeine
• = approximately $278.85 in coffee alone!

Not to mention Hunni’s Nantucket habit at $1.85 for each coffee trip.  We spent a butt load of money at the coffee shop not including the work lunches and other meals we ate there.  (Butt load is a higher level math term from all my calculus classes )

My wallet is empty but my cabinets are full…of coffee.

Something has to change NOW or I might be surviving on a diet of coffee alone.  This doesn’t sound like such a bad idea now but I’m not so willing to test it out.

That brings me to my challenge for October…I’m going to limit my coffee shop habit.  Notice I didn’t say stop it.  In my experience when I go cold turkey from things like this, I rebel.  Instead I’m saying no more than five coffee shop coffees in one month.  This allows for some fun blend meet ups I already have scheduled and I can enjoy some seasonal flavors without going broke.

I’ve done a few things to make the transition less traumatic.

• I purchased seasonal coffee flavors.  The best part of fall are pumpkin and autumn flavored things.  I searched seven grocery stores to find these bags.  I snapped them up quick when I heard a couple behind me looking for the same thing. 
• Then I had to figure out what flavors where in those mysterious bags I already had.  Hunni was nice enough to buy me some flavored coffee grounds but, uh, didn’t label any of the bags.  This means I spent a good bit of free time the last few days with my nose in a bag to pick out subtle flavors.  Much like wine tasting…a hint of raspberry with a fine note of chocolate.
• I have rice and almond milk on hand.  Heck I always have them on hand because they are all I drink.  But I did buy this little beauty at Reading Terminal Market to make it more coffee shop like.  I need the frothy foam.  It’s addicting.
• Flavored creamer is a must.  All that soy from my summer iced lattes didn’t make my body too happy.  However just a splash of soy creamer or coconut adds to the flavor and light color I love.

I like a challenge so I’m fairly certain I can do this.  Before my summer-o-crazy I only went once or twice a month to the coffee shop.  For a bit of extra insurance I bought this cute new reusable mug I’m really looking forward to using.  It’s pretty

I’m actually excited to do this.  I need to get our budget back on track and my eating at home on track as well.  This a a great addition to both of those things.  My coffee is packed and I’m ready to go.  Bring on October.

Do you have a coffee ritual?