The Home Coffee Field Guide

Know the real cost and match before you buy.

Money

Cost per Cup

Sticker price hides the real number. Run your actual dose and waste rate.

Change a value. Watch the output move.

Espresso scale, portafilter, and coffee beans on a home brewing counter
Representative dose and gear workflow for cost math.

Inputs

Planning estimate only. Change inputs to match your situation.

Live output

Beans cost / cup—
Machine / cup (3 yr)—
Job this solves

Calculate real cost per cup including beans, waste, and optional machine amortization.

Assumptions

Defaults are starting points, not recommendations. Outputs inherit your inputs.

Swipe or use arrow keys to scroll this table.

InputDefault
Bag price ($)18
Bag size (g)340
Dose (g)18
Waste %8
Machine price ($)700
Cups per year365

Common questions

What counts as waste?

Puck, chaff, over-dosing, and the first shot you dump while dialing. Typical 5–12% for espresso.

How many years should I amortize the machine?

Use 3–5 realistic years. If you plan to upgrade sooner, lower the number.

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