Why this barista now drinks instant coffee

ALEXANDRA Putnins worked for three years as a barista. Now she has just given up her daily cafe-created coffee – and switched to instant.

“I used to be a classic go-get-a-coffee-before-work gal, roughly $4 a day or sometimes more,” she said.

In January, Ms Putnins swapped to $1 cups of coffee at 7-Eleven to save money. Now she is on a zero coffee spend challenge.

“The instant coffee was donated by my partner’s mum – I hijack hot water, milk, sugar and electricity from work,” she said.

For many, forfeiting the daily grind would be a sacrifice too great to contemplate. We have become a nation of coffee aficionados.

In March, the latte debate became a hot topic when US finance commentator Suze Orman declared war on coffee.

Ms Orman accused coffee drinkers of “peeing $1 million down the drain after you drink that coffee”, based on what they could receive from investing the equivalent money in retirement savings funds over 40 years.

“I would not buy a cup of coffee anywhere – ever – and I can afford it, because I would not insult myself by wasting money that way,” she declared.

Strong Money Australia blogger Dave Gow, who stopped full-time work at age 28, drinks coffee sometimes as a treat when going out. “We’ve got perfectly good coffee at home,” he said.

“And when I was at work, I’d simply drink the coffee provided. Better than wasting the lunch break and lining up somewhere to get a slightly better caffeine fix, plus the cost of it.

“Respecting small amounts of money seems dull and boring, but it’s incredibly powerful,” Mr Gow said. “It’s an attitude shift that is important to make.”

Not everyone agrees that buying coffee is a financial crime.

Financial planner Michael Miller said buying a coffee could be one of the smartest financial choices you made.

Mr Miller said the opportunity to spend time away from the office chatting with a friendly barista was important for many people’s emotional health and wellbeing.

“While saving small amounts matter, you can easily find those savings from somewhere else,” he said.