--- title: "Is a coffee machine worth it? Work out the payback" description: "Is a coffee machine worth it? How to compare the cost per cup at home with coffee bought out, including pods, beans, milk and the machine itself." author: "Wealtie Team" published: 2026-11-12 updated: 2026-11-12 category: "Saving" canonical: https://wealtie.com/blog/coffee-machine-worth-it --- # Is a coffee machine worth it? Work out the payback Is a coffee machine worth it? It usually is if it replaces coffee you buy out, and in a worked example a 200 machine pays for itself in about two months for someone swapping one bought coffee a day. ## Key takeaways - A coffee machine is usually worth it if it replaces coffee you buy out. - In a worked example, a 200 machine pays for itself in about two months when it replaces one bought coffee a day. - Pods are convenient but cost more per cup than ground coffee or beans. - The saving only counts if you stop buying the coffee out. ## Is a coffee machine worth it? It usually is, if it replaces coffee you'd otherwise buy. A coffee from a café is a small treat on any single day, but bought most days it adds up to a large yearly sum. Making the same drink at home costs a fraction of the price, so even a fairly expensive machine can pay for itself quickly. The catch is that the saving only appears if you stop buying coffee out. If you mostly drink instant coffee at home and rarely buy out, a machine is a nice upgrade rather than a saving. It's worth looking at last month's card statements first, since café coffees are easy to underestimate. ## What does a cup cost at home compared with buying out? Here's a worked example, in round numbers that work in any currency: | Option | Cost per cup | | --- | --- | | Bought from a café | 3.50 | | Pod machine | 0.60 | | Ground coffee or beans | 0.40 | ![Cost per cup. Bought out: 3.5, Pod machine: 0.6, Ground or beans: 0.4.](https://us-1-s3.polodev.net/wealtie-blog-media/posts/2026/11/cost-per-cup-bought-out-3-5-pod-machine-0-6-ground-or-beans-caff6fa1be.webp "Source: Worked example in round numbers") These figures include a little milk. Your own costs depend on the coffee you buy, the drink you make and local café prices. [How much you spend on coffee](https://wealtie.com/blog/how-much-do-you-spend-on-coffee) works through the yearly cost of a coffee habit. ## How long does a machine take to pay for itself? Divide the cost of the machine by what you save per cup. In the worked example, swapping a 3.50 café coffee for a 0.40 home coffee saves about 3.10 a cup. A 200 machine pays for itself after about 65 cups, or roughly three months of working days. After that, the saving continues: replacing one bought coffee each working day saves about 700 a year. ### Count the extras Include descaling products, filters, a milk frother if you want one and replacement parts. Machines also use a little electricity. These costs are small next to the saving, but they belong in the sum. Descaling regularly also keeps the machine working longer, which lowers its cost per year. ## Which type of machine costs least to run? Each type has trade-offs: - **Pod machines** are cheap to buy and easy to use, but pods cost more per cup and create more waste. - **Bean-to-cup machines** cost more upfront, but beans are among the cheapest ways to make good coffee. - **Manual options**, like a cafetière, a moka pot or pour-over, cost very little and make excellent coffee. - **Espresso machines** sit in the middle and need a little more skill. If you drink several cups a day, a machine with cheaper running costs usually wins over time. If you drink one cup a day, the purchase price matters more. ### Milk drinks cost more Lattes and cappuccinos use more milk, which raises the cost per cup at home a little. They also tend to cost more in cafés, so the saving from making them yourself is often bigger, not smaller. ## How do you make sure the saving is real? Change the habit, not only the kitchen. Many people buy a machine and keep buying coffee out on the way to work. A few habits help: - Make coffee before you leave, or take a flask or travel mug - Keep a machine or cafetière at work, if your workplace allows it - Decide which coffees out you'll keep as treats, like a weekend café visit - Move the money you'd have spent into savings each week Seeing the saved amount grow makes it easier to stick with. A good travel mug that keeps coffee hot for a few hours makes the switch much easier on busy mornings. ## Should you buy new, refurbished or second-hand? Refurbished and second-hand machines can be good value, especially higher-end models. Check that the machine has been cleaned and descaled, and that spare parts are still available. A cheaper machine that breaks after a year saves less than a sturdy one that lasts many years. [How to save money on electronics](https://wealtie.com/blog/save-money-on-electronics) covers buying at the right time, and [cost per use](https://wealtie.com/blog/cost-per-use) helps you compare a cheaper machine with a pricier one that lasts longer. ## When is a coffee machine not worth it? When it won't change what you do. If you enjoy café visits for the break, the walk or the company, keeping them can be worth the money. A machine that sits unused in a cupboard is a cost with no saving. Be honest about how often you'd use it before you buy. Borrowing a friend's machine for a week, or trying a cheap cafetière first, shows whether you'll keep up the habit. ## How do you track coffee spending in Wealtie? Give coffee its own line in your [expense categories](https://wealtie.com/features/categories), so you can see what you spend each month before and after the switch. A monthly limit in the [budget tracker](https://wealtie.com/features/budgets) keeps the coffees you still buy out within your plan. ## Questions people ask ### Is a coffee machine worth it? Usually, if it replaces coffee you buy out. In a worked example, a 200 machine pays for itself in about three months of workdays. ### How much does a cup of coffee cost at home? In a worked example, about 0.40 with ground coffee or beans, or 0.60 with pods, against 3.50 bought out. ### Are pod machines cheaper to run? No. They're cheap to buy, but pods cost more per cup than ground coffee or beans. ### How much can I save by making coffee at home? In a worked example, replacing one bought coffee each working day saves about 700 a year. *This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.*