Australians are quietly drinking more coffee at home. Nestle's sales data says the shift is real, the ABS says eating out got 4.5 per cent dearer in a year, and the average cafe flat white now sits around $6. If you are one of the people doing the maths at the counter, here is what a home brew actually costs, what changes when you move off sachets, and where to start.
The short version: a double shot from a 250g bag of our blends costs about $1.76 in beans. A filter cup about $1.20. Brew Club members pay 20 per cent less again. Milk extra, machine optional.
Why everyone is suddenly brewing at home
On International Coffee Day the ABC reported what cafe owners have felt all year. Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose 3 per cent in the twelve months to August 2026. Meals out and takeaway rose 4.5 per cent. Nestle's general manager said their sales show a move back to home consumption, with cappuccino sachets the fastest-growing part of the market over five years. Green coffee prices have come off their peak but are still about three times what they were in 2021.
None of that is a reason to stop going to cafes. It is a reason to make the coffee you drink at home worth drinking.
What a home cup really costs
These are our own numbers, worked from a 250g bag at $20, which is where Re Firma and Gran Mezcla start.
Brew method Dose Cups per 250g Beans per cup With Brew Club (20% off)
Espresso (double shot) 22g in, 44g out About 11 $1.76 $1.41
Pour-over or V60 15g per cup About 16 $1.20 $0.96
Plunger (1:15, 60g per litre) 15g per 250ml mug About 16 $1.20 $0.96
Stovetop Fill the basket, about 15 to 18g 14 to 16 $1.20 to $1.40 $0.96 to $1.12
Add milk at whatever your carton costs. Even so, a flat white made at home from freshly roasted specialty beans lands well under half the cafe price. Nestle puts a cup of its instant at 12 to 15 cents, which is cheaper again, but that is a different drink and it is not the one the cafe queue is lining up for.
The step up from sachets, in order
1. Fresh beans before a new machine
The biggest jump in flavour is not equipment. It is coffee that was roasted in the last few weeks instead of ground months ago and sealed in a sachet. Every bag we sell has the roast date printed on it. Espresso tastes best 7 to 21 days after roast, filter 5 to 30 days. If you change one thing, change this.
2. A grinder before an espresso machine
Pre-ground coffee starts losing its aroma within minutes. A basic burr grinder and a plunger will beat an expensive machine fed with stale pre-ground every time. If you do not own a grinder yet, choose your grind size at checkout and we grind to your method on the day we pack.
3. A method that fits your morning
Plunger if you want zero fuss. Stovetop if you like it strong and short. V60 or AeroPress if you enjoy the ritual and want to taste the origin. Espresso machine only if you will use it every day and are prepared to dial it in. Our brew guides cover each one with the ratio, grind and water temperature.
4. The right coffee for that method
Milk drinks want a blend with body and sweetness: Re Firma or Gran Mezcla. Black filter rewards a single origin with more clarity. Not sure? The four-question coffee finder matches you in under a minute, no email needed.
Quick facts
Cafe flat white, average About $6 (ABC, October 2026)
Home double shot from our blends About $1.76 in beans, $1.41 on Brew Club
Home filter cup About $1.20 in beans, $0.96 on Brew Club
Best window after roast Espresso 7 to 21 days, filter 5 to 30 days
Roasted Weekly in Hurstville, Sydney, roast date on every bag
Shipping Free Australia-wide over $80
Common questions
Is it cheaper to make coffee at home than buy it?
Yes, by a wide margin. A double shot from a $20 bag of our blends costs about $1.76 in beans, against roughly $6 for a cafe flat white. Add milk and you are still well under half the price. The gap is the cafe's rent, wages and equipment, not the coffee.
Do I need an espresso machine to make good coffee at home?
No. A plunger, stovetop or V60 with fresh beans and a burr grinder will outperform most entry-level machines. Buy the machine once you know you will use it daily.
How long do coffee beans stay fresh?
Whole beans are at their best for espresso 7 to 21 days after roast and for filter 5 to 30 days. Keep them in an airtight container away from light and heat, and buy in quantities you will finish inside a month.
What is the Brew Club?
A subscription to any of our three blends, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with a flat 20 per cent off every order and free shipping over $80. Skip or pause from your account.
Start with the beans. Shop coffee roasted this week in Hurstville, or join the Brew Club and save 20 per cent on every bag.
Sources: ABC News, 1 October 2026 (home brewing and ABS price data). Cost per cup calculated from King Carlos Coffee retail prices at time of publishing.
