Coffee. Tea. Save Money

Espresso- Coffee

After years of wanting my own espresso-cappuccino maker, I finally got one and immediately was amazed at the amount of money I saved from not buying my regular morning latte. WOW! I mean the machine cost was $260, the equivalent to nearly 2 months of purchasing one latte a day… So if you’ve ever wanted one, just go for it. I also love saving my friends money too; instead of meeting for coffee, we meet somewhere outdoors and I bring them a coffee in a travel mug. Its not just economical, its also nurturing! 

I recommend Lavazza brand of espresso. I got hooked in Italy and its been my go-to ever since. And remember to experiment: iced lattes, vanilla syrup, almond milk, Bailey’s. Oh yes, Bailey’s on weekends is a great treat, especially in the long gloomy days of winter!

Tea

I LOVE tea! I love it in the winter and I love it in the summer. I use teas for a caffeine boost mid-day, for medicinal purposes, and metabolism boosters.

My kids love it too, so my son Kobe recommended I post my natural “unsweetened” Iced Tea recipe on my blog. The problem is, its not really a set recipe and I am always trying different things. But I’ll do my best.

Here is what you need to make a HUGE batch of Iced Tea:

  • A Large tea pot
  • A Large tempered glass jug *make sure it is tempered or it will crack with boiled water*
  • An extra Large juice jug 
  • 1-2 Tbs loose tea of your choice for the tea pot
  • 2 tea bags of your choice for the tempered glass jug
  • 2-5 pouches of dried stevia (for sweetness)

*OPTIONAL

  • Juice of 1 lemon or lime
  • Fresh Mint leaves
  • Fresh Ginger slices

I make herbal tea concoctions for my kids and I make special brews for myself such as:

Ooolong Tea (loose) for Metabolism boosting

  • Dandelion Root for Liver cleansing and support
  • Green Tea for antioxidants (anti-aging) and metabolism
  • Camomile & Mint for soothing/relaxation (anti-stress) 

I brew the loose tea in the teapot with built-in strainer and the 2 teabags on the tempered container

Add stevia to the glass container

Let cool for a few hours then transfer both batches into one large juice container to refrigerate

I brew them in the evening and refrigerate over night. Having good quality travel drink containers saves money. Each “naturally brewed” iced tea from the store costs between 2.50- 3.60. Ours are a fraction of that cost and contain fresher more high quality teas that have amazing nutrient content.

I hope you try it out and let me know how it goes!