A survey with 1,900 participants found that “a staggering 44% of female millennials aged 18 to 35 spent more on their [coffee] than they did putting money aside this year.” That got us wondering just how much millennials pay for their morning fix.
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Name: Geraldine
Age: 25
Job position & Industry: Social Media Editor (Digital Publishing/Advertising)
Monthly income range: P25,000 – P30,000
How much is in your emergency fund? P2,000 – P5,000
When did you start drinking coffee? And why?
I started drinking coffee when I worked as a call center agent and had the night shift. One of the perks of working there was our access to a Nescafe vending machine that dispensed bottomless coffee—for free! In my next job as a content writer, I also had free unlimited brewed coffee. So you can just imagine how much coffee means to me. LOL! God, I miss those days.
Where do you usually buy coffee? Why there?
Last year, I had a baaad Starbucks habit. I used to always get the iced Americano (black) because it was the only drink strong enough to keep me awake in my 11-hour job. But it soon became too costly. I was forced to find cheaper alternatives. Now, my coffee sources rotate—McDo, Dunkin’ Donuts, and a DIY brew of Rowena’s (a famous tart bakery in Tagaytay).
What kind do you get?
I go for black almost all the time. When I add cream or milk, I get sleepy. I still splurge on the Matcha Espresso Fusion (Teavana) of Starbucks—aka HEAVEN—maybe every two months when I’m feeling especially down.
How much is one cup? How many cups do you drink in one day?
McDo’s is P47; Dunkin’ Donuts’ is P55; and Rowena’s is P230 per bag (with 20 to 30 cups). I only drink one cup a day. The venti size of Starbucks Matcha Espresso Fusion is P185…or has it gone up to P190? I don’t know, and I don’t care. Sulit pa rin for me! LOL
Can you estimate how much you spend on coffee in one month?
It’s hard to tell the exact amount since my coffee of choice is highly dependent on my mood. I’d say around P500 when I’m being a good girl and up to P1,000 on a bad month.
Does that amount surprise you?
Not really. When I compare it to back when I had Starbucks daily, it’s much better now. I used to spend up to P3,000 a month…or almost 14% of my previous sweldo.
Do you regret spending that much on coffee?
No. Coffee is an investment. Haha! But seriously, I learned to love coffee and appreciate its taste. For me, coffee is LIFE.
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Name: Brianna
Age: 27
Job position & Industry: Company Physician (Healthcare)
Monthly income range: P40,000 – P50,000
How much is in your emergency fund? P10,000 – P20,000
When did you start drinking coffee? And why?
I used to sneakily sip my mom’s coffee in the morning, because I grew up loving the smell. But I started drinking coffee regularly in high school, when Nescafe iced coffee started being sold in our school cafeteria. I always felt like the amount of sleep I got every night didn’t give me enough energy to last through the next day.
Where do you usually buy coffee? Why there?
I usually buy coffee from Starbucks because it’s the only coffee place in the building where I work. I also get free coffee from the Nescafe machines in our pantry when I feel like the caffeine boost from my Starbucks coffee isn’t enough.
What kind do you get?
I usually get an iced Vanilla or Hazelnut Latte from Starbucks, and the 3-in-1 Nescafe coffee from the Nescafe machines.
How much is one cup? How many cups do you drink in one day?
I usually buy an iced grande Vanilla or Hazelnut Latte from Starbucks, which costs P155. But as I mentioned before, I also take advantage of the Nescafe machines that dispense free coffee in our pantry. I usually get a 16-ounce 3-in-1 coffee from there. I drink around five to seven cups of coffee a day.
Can you estimate how much you spend on coffee in one month?
I’d say up to P4,000.
Does that amount surprise you?
No, not really. I need it.
Do you regret spending that much on coffee?
I don’t really regret it because I turn into a beast if I’m not caffeinated. I get irritable and I don’t make the best decisions because I’d be suffering from withdrawal. Nobody would want to work with me, and frankly, I wouldn’t want to work with anyone either when I’m in that kind of mood.
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Name: Harper
Age: 26
Job position & Industry: Corporate Planning Supervisor (Retail)
Monthly income range: P25,000 – P30,000
How much is in your emergency fund? P2,000 – P5,000
When did you start drinking coffee? And why?
I started drinking coffee in college. Sleep was for the weak and we needed to stay up late to memorize thesis statements, answers, formulas. There wasn’t enough time for the physical world for sleep to be a thing. That said, I used to always just get straight, black coffee because I drank it out of necessity, not because I liked the taste.
Where do you usually buy coffee? Why there?
Starbucks…because I have Starbucks quality taste buds. LOL! Every coffee snob says Starbucks is shit, but it’s my kind of shit, and I embrace it wholeheartedly. On days when I really don’t care what I’m drinking and just need a boost to get me through the day, I get a large cup of McCafé black coffee. That shit is strong.
What kind do you get?
At Starbucks, I go for the grande Cappuccino with an extra shot.
How much is one cup? How many cups do you drink in one day?
One cup is around P145 to P160, depending on if I need the extra shot. I normally drink one cup a day, but I have days when I need two.
Can you estimate how much you spend on coffee in one month?
Two years ago, when I was having a ridiculous week, I used to spend P1,000 on coffee A WEEK. I tried to never have it go past P2,000, though. Now, however, I don’t spend as much because I’m not “allowed” to have it (I cheat). I’m acidic. I’m trying to make the switch to tea. But we also get a lot of free coffee at work, so I spend much less.
Does that amount surprise you?
Not really. I’m very aware that I spend a lot.
Do you regret spending that much on coffee?
Also, no. I don’t dwell, especially not on my expenses. (I know I should care more, don’t worry.)
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Name: Megan
Age: 24
Job position & Industry: Marketing Manager (Cosmetics)
Monthly income range: P35,000 – P40,000
How much is in your emergency fund? Around P30,000.
When did you start drinking coffee? And why?
I started drinking real coffee in college. By “real” I mean actual brewed/instant coffee and not Frappuccinos or coffee-flavored drinks. Coffee helped me stay up during early morning classes and long nights of studying. However, I consider it a want and not a need. I have friends who really cannot function without a cup. I can go for days without it.
Where do you usually buy coffee? Why there?
For regular work days, I prefer coffee from McDonald’s or Dunkin’ Donuts. For what they’re worth, they’re pretty strong; one small cup is enough to keep me going throughout a regular work day. I’m also a fan of Kopiko Café Blanca, which I buy in bulk at the grocery store. (Really not a fan of Starbucks, sorry!) On weekends, my boyfriend and I like to try out different ~artisan~ coffee shops, just to see if they’re worth our money. LOL. (Most of the time, they’re not. Again, sorry!)
What kind do you get?
From McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts, I usually buy a small cup of brewed coffee. If I have cash to spare, I’ll buy the iced coffee (vanilla) from McDo. For instant coffee, my favorite is really Kopiko Café Blanca. When I’m in a coffee shop, I usually order a latte.
How much is one cup? How many cups do you drink in one day?
A regular cup of brewed coffee from McDo is P33, while my favorite iced coffee is P52. In Dunkin’, I pay P40 for a small cup. I think the average price of a regular latte in a coffee shop is around P130.
Can you estimate how much you spend on coffee in one month?
Around P1,500.
Does that amount surprise you?
It does. That’s almost the same amount as my monthly phone bill and a week’s worth of parking. I never realized how much I spent on coffee until writing this, tbh.
Do you regret spending that much on coffee?
Not really! I have a budget for my food, which covers my coffee expenses, and most of the time, I stick to it. The only time I ever regretted spending money on coffee was when I got Starbucks almost every day for a week—that shit is expensive.
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