Frugal Coffee tips

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You don't need a bunch of fancy equipment or expensive beans to make a great cup of coffee. Even if you don't have a grinder, you can still enjoy a perfect cup of joe. 

Here are some tips that turned my scalding, bitter mess into a warm, sweet brew.

1. Always use cold water in your drip brewer. Even better, use cold, filtered water. 

2. Make sure your grounds are at an even level in the filter; not a mound. 

3. Store your grounds in an air tight container somewhere cool. Don't use the fridge since the door is constantly being opened. 

4. Flavor your coffee with sweet spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Combine three to make pumpkin spice. Place a teaspoon of spice in the grounds, shake around, and brew. 

Now if you want to get all fancy and make your own cafe drinks without breaking the bank, here are two quick-fix recipes:

1-minute Mocha:
Half brewed coffee + Half hot chocolate. For a caramel mocha, add a chewy caramel and let it melt. Add a little whipped cream if you'd like. 

Budget Breve:
1/3 Cup strong coffee + 1/2 C half and half. Sweeten if desired (I like to use raw cane sugar) Top with whipped cream and your favorite ground spice.