Today's Way to Save Episode 6: Salvation in a Cup a.k.a. Cheap Coffee

Between my early morning classes, and all of the running around I've been doing, I have developed a special relationship with liquid caffeine in the form of frothy, delicious, creamy, smooth French coffee. Unfortunately, every good thing has a down-side, and the cost of espresso, café crème, and the occasional cappuccino splurge can add up quickly. To avoid this, I employ 3 methods:

1. Savor the CEA "Happy Hour": 

Every Monday at 7pm I can join my friends at Carrefour Bar for a complimentary drink grâce à CEA. Instead of opting for a delicious kir, I sip away my case of the Mondays with a frothy café crème even if it is a faux-pas after 11... 

Final Price: FREE

2. Make Nespresso à la maison:

If I wake up early enough, I can make an espresso or coffee using the Nespresso machine at home. The little capsules, similar to K-cups, come in many flavors and intensities, so it's easy to shake things up. Plus, I figured out that I can a) make an espresso by running the capsule once b) run the capsule through twice to make a coffee or c) mix in a huge glob of Nutella to make a fabulous mocha in about 35 seconds.

Final Price: About €0,20 per capsule, included in my complementary home-stay breakfast

3. For caffeine emergencies only:

If I feel excessively sleepy during the school day, and must make the choice between a nap or a coffee, I hit up the vending machine at the university. Though it's not barista quality, the cappuccinos are actually quite decent, and they come with a stirrer. Plus, the size is about that of an average café beverage here in France: think Dixie cup.

Final Price: €0,50 - €0,80 depending on which building I'm in

Conclusion: It is important to savor the little things in life and, with prices like these, I'm happy to savor coffee a little bit more.

Thanks for reading!