The math and your conservative estimate is astounding. I also love Caribou coffee. To save money, I buy their dark roasted beans on Monday's for $8/pound. I have a coffee grinder and Cuisinart 12 cup coffee maker at home. My coffee addiction is fulfilled for less than $400/year.

1st I was sitting in the Caribou drive-up when I read this – seiously! 2nd I have that same coffee press for the same reason you bought yours but have gotten lazy. I’ll join you this month (as soon as I finish my large dark half-caff…)!

a french press is the only way to go, but you've got to grind your own beans man. you can pick up a grinder for pretty cheap.

nah, being an idiot has it's merits. but trial and error can be a costly endeavor.

Hmmm … I've been using a FP for years now. It is *the* way to go. I only buy coffee ready-made when I'm on the fly and have no other choice (aka … running late to my daughter's hockey game), or am dying for a Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. You'll find this option so satisfying that you'll never go back to standing in line and buying it again.

I use your October method about 3 times a week. I use an Aeropress coffee pump/press thing and transfer that into a mug or travel mug and mix in milk and hot cocoa for a nice homemade mocha at about the cost of quarter. Yep…25 cents. Works out pretty well I think

prediction: the glass of your bodum will break within 3 months :(

when it does you should pickup one of the indestructible stainless steel presses from *bucks.

OR – better yet, get a human-size press like this 12oz bodum http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Kenya-12-Ounce-Coffee...

I don't know … most of our Bodum's lasted about a year (give or take). However, we purchased a couple of stainless steel insulated fp's a couple years ago and will never go back. They're a little more expensive than the Bodum, but unbreakable and the coffee stays much hotter while brewing. We purchased two by accident … I gave one to my husband and he gave one to me for Christmas two or three years ago.

Get a burr style grinder – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_grinder – that will set a uniform grind and you'll be fine. A slight bit of trial and error to get it just right, but not the every time trial and error of a blade grinder.

1st I was sitting in the drive-thru at Caribou when I read this – seriously. 2nd I bought the same exact coffee press for the same reason you got yours and have gotten lazy. I will join you this month as soon as I finish my large dark roast half-caff…

1. I will buy you one cup of coffee at the shop of your month at a time of your choosing this month. You are not required to talk to me whilst consuming said coffee, but it wouldn't hurt.

2. I have a very awesome burr grinder. You are welcome to grind beans at the House of Tow anytime you like.

Also, thought I tweeted it, for the benefit of those here, look into the Aeropress.

I like how you said "I will not spend any of *my* money"… is this an elaborate ruse to get people to buy you coffee?

Saw this posted on my Fb feed and came to check it out– good for you for putting your foot down! (Although the price of coffee in America is a STEAL– including refills– compared to anywhere in W. Europe, for the record) Also, in case you weren't aware (and many people are surprised by this), dark roast coffee has the least caffeine of any kind of coffee, excepting decaf. This is because the roasting process "roasts out" the caffeine, so while it may have the harshest, most bitter taste, you're actually getting significantly less caffeine than with a light roast. So, you may not be quite the caffeine addict you imagine, and a light roast early in the worming might get you a little further than a dark roast.. But either way, good job putting your foot down!

Another reason to curb your Caribou addiction:

… Caribou Coffee, whose website likes to give the impression it is an American company, but nothing can be further from the truth. Fine-print on Caribou's website states "Our majority shareholder since 2000 is an affiliate of Arcapita Bank B.S.C.©," but what they fail to mention is that Arcapita was formerly known as the First Islamic bank of Bahrain which at one point owned about 90% of the company and was renamed to hide the fact that the company adheres to the same Islamic Sharia laws which prescribes discrimination against Jews, Christians and women. Boycott Watch has also previously written how Caribou has ties to terrorism.

http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/starbucks8.htm

I am in. Although I avoid Caribou like the plague. Mine will be slightly modified, but I will be utilizing the same tools. Great idea!

You could also look into IKEA for your press. I got a large press from there (glass, but no breakage in 2 years through heavy use) for no kidding… like $12.

You may also want to look into chemex (google it!). It's clean, old-fashioned, and produces an amazing cup of coffee.

Also, on the topic of grinders, a burr grinder is nice but expensive. If I was a betting man, I'd bet that you won't be able to tell the difference between the coffee produced from a burr grinder and that of a much cheaper blade grinder. I will say, however, that grinding your own coffee (regardless of the grinder) just before you brew it is the single most important thing you can do to improve the quality.

Going from mid-grade Caribou to high-end Intelligensia is a step up in my opinion… so instead of it being a bummed that you have to fast for the month, consider yourself lucky!

Boumja01-

Just last month I started drinking coffee regularly, and after a few weeks of morning runs to EVP (a wonderful local coffee company) I decided that I needed to make the commitment to my newfound morning friend and invest in the same plan as you. That's right, Dr. Thunder is now relying on something other than his own caffeine. Tools of the trade:
http://www.gocontigo.com/catalog-product-detail;c...
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Young-Press-34-Ounce-...
Haven't found a coffee brand that i swear by, but eventually i'll settle on something.