The Coffeeshop Phenomenon: Why We (Need to Stop) Keep Coming Back for More.
By: Dianna Kim
Tags: Finance, Coffee Shop, Consumerism, Starbucks, Coffee

The average American spends $1,100 on coffee every year. What about you?

It’s not a lie that coffee is the world’s most popular drink. In fact, about half of the population over the age of 18 in America drink coffee every day. That’s about 107 million coffee drinkers in America each day!

This raises a very interesting question for coffee fans and consumer habit studiers alike. Out of those 107 million Americans who wake up to a cup (or two!) of coffee every morning, how many buy their coffee?

It’s safe to say that Americans can agree that they are probably spending more than they should on a beverage that costs less than a dollar to make!

So… what’s the deal behind the coffeeshop phenomenon?

There are many reasons for the mysterious coffee shop phenomenon. Whether it be because of the clever marketing strategies deployed by famous coffee chains such as Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, baristas working quickly to serve you coffee, or simply the earthy fragrance of coffee grinds gently welcoming you into a coffee shop, it’s difficult to deny the power of our desire for coffee combined with the ever-growing number of coffee chains spreading across America.

In fact, an article from Business 2 Community investigated the consumer phenomenon behind the popularity of Starbucks Coffee. Interestingly, the author, Gerardo A. Dada, credited the chain’s mass popularity to not the coffee, but to the “coffee buying experience.” Starbucks founder, Howard Schultz devoted his time to not only perfecting the chain’s coffee, but to establishing stores with warm and welcoming lighting, delicious flavors, and friendly baristas, or partners as Starbucks prefers to call them.

“Starbucks interior — Austin Texas” by joncutrer is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

So, if there’s nothing extraordinary about the coffee we’re buying, then why not try to emulate the “coffee buying experience” at home instead?

Cut the lines and brew your own coffee!

There are still many ways that you can enjoy your cup of coffee while satisfying the coffee buying experience at home! Not only will you save big bucks over time, but you’ll also be able to skip the long lines associated with big-name coffee shops by brewing at home! Here are some reasons why you’ll become a fan of brewing your own coffee in no time!

1. You’ll save a considerable amount of money over time.

In fact, according to Grow, you could save a whopping $1,5000 a year! There are even affordable programmable coffeemakers that are available for purchase that can brew coffee at the specific time you assign it to. A bag of coffee grounds is also proportionally cheaper than buying a single cup of coffee. For example, rather than buying a $4 coffee, if you were to purchase one bag of coffee grounds for $8, you would be able to make forty times the cups of coffee with just a single bag!

2. Endless and affordable customization options are just a fridge handle away.

Paying an extra dollar for a single shot of vanilla syrup will soon be a thing of the past! Let’s face it, add-ins and ingredient substitutions for your coffee are ridiculously expensive for very little product you actually get. Many coffee shops even limit the number of customizations you can add to your coffee. By brewing your coffee at home, you can add as much vanilla syrup as your heart desires. Additionally, ingredient substitutions, such as almond or oat milk, are proportionally cheaper by purchasing them by the gallon.

Making the “coffee buying experience” truly yours.

The beauty behind the “coffee buying experience” ultimately boils down to the customer’s willingness to integrate it into their daily lives. For many, coffee is essential to completing their morning ritual. However, what people fail to recognize is that a purchase is never necessary for establishing lifestyle habits. A huge part of brewing your own coffee at home is the experience. So, the next time you decide to brew your coffee, play the perfect morning playlist, inhale the rich aromas that the coffee grounds exude, measure the water perfectly for every tablespoon of coffee grounds, and drink your coffee while it’s still fresh. Trust me, it’ll add to the experience.