Many people say the same thing every month: “My salary runs out before the month does”. With the cost of living constantly rising, it can feel like saving money is almost impossible. The truth however, is that small daily changes can make a big difference over the course of a year. You don’t need to cut out everything you enjoy or completely change your lifestyle. A few simple habits can save hundreds or even thousands of euros a year. One very simple example is coffee.
The Daily Coffee
In Cyprus, we love coffee. It’s part of the culture: a coffee before work, a coffee during a break, coffee with friends. But buying coffee every day can cost more than we realize. If you buy one coffee a day at an average price of €3, you spend roughly €90 per month, or €1,095 per year. If you buy two coffees a day, that becomes around €2,190 per year. And that’s just for something many of us consider a small daily habit.
A Simple Change That Can Make a Big Difference
Buying a coffee machine for home can significantly reduce this cost. A great option is a ground coffee espresso machine, such as those made by DeLonghi.
Why choose ground coffee instead of capsules?
- Coffee is much cheaper
- You often get better quality and flavour
- Capsules come with a continuous purchasing cost
A 250g bag of ground coffee can make about 25–30 espressos. If one homemade coffee costs roughly €0.30–€0.40, the comparison looks like this:
| Coffee Type | Cost per Coffee |
| Coffee from a café | ~€3 |
| Coffee at home (ground coffee) | ~€0.35 |
Savings per coffee: about €2.65. If you drink two coffees a day, the savings can reach around €1,900 per year.
What If You Already Have a Capsule Machine?
Even capsule machines are cheaper than buying coffee outside, but they still cost more than using ground coffee. A typical capsule costs around €0.50–€0.60 per coffee.
| Coffee Type | Cost per Coffee |
| Coffee from a café | ~€3 |
| Coffee at home (capsule) | ~€0.55 |
| Coffee at home (ground coffee) | ~€0.35 |
If you drink two coffees a day:
- Capsules: about €400 per year
- Ground coffee: about €255 per year
Even with capsules, you could still save around €1,700 per year compared to buying coffee outside.
My Personal Experience
A few years ago, I made exactly this change myself. After doing quite a bit of research on which machine to buy, I chose the DeLonghi Dedica Pump Espresso Machine (1300W, 15 bar). The price is reasonable (around €130), it doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen, it looks great and works perfectly for me. I’ve had it for over five years now. Of course, there are many other options available, but just by making coffee at home instead of buying it every day, I estimate that I’ve saved over €5,000 over the years.
This Doesn’t Mean You Stop Going Out
This surely doesn’t mean you should stop going out for coffee with friends. Coffee is a big part of social life in Cyprus, and nobody is suggesting you give that up. But even reducing your daily takeaway coffee can make a noticeable difference to your expenses. Small changes can have a big impact. Think of it this way: you work hard for your money. It’s worth spending it in a way that truly benefits you.