Your morning coffee - economic stimulus - how to have Coffee ALMOST as great as Starbucks for pennies

I just saved 40 bucks by buying enough coffee to last until about February. My favorite brand is on sale until September 10. It is a house brand, actually, from Supervalue, but a gourmet house brand.

I actually love gourmet food, and am quite fussy about what I eat. So, since I don't want to spend megabucks in expensive restaurants, I will make stuff myself.

You can have delicious coffee, for very little money.

Here are a few flavors to whet your morning:

Buy top quality coffee. These days, it is not difficult to find good quality coffee at the store, in several price points. If you prefer 'American' flavor or "Breakfast Blend", that is fine, too. There is a place for everything.

I love: French Roast, Espresso, Hazelnut, Caramel Spice, Double Chocolate, Java, Ethiopian, Columbian, Pumpkin Spice, French Vanilla and French Vanilla Nut.

You can add whipped cream, and presto - you just saved a ton by not going to Starbucks.

I bought 20 pounds, sitting in my freezer.

Here are some deliciosities:

1: Mocha to die for: Make Double Chocolate - this is a flavor from Java Delight - from the Supervalue family of stores. I make a pot, then let it cool for Iced Coffee. The chocolate flavor is subtle, but I make a great mocha by adding a quality chocolate syrup in the glass with ice. I never use sugar, per se, but I do add Evaporated Milk. Sometimes, I use half and half or light cream. I do try to avoid drinking calorie and fat laden coffees, because I drink a ton of coffee.

2: Caramel/Butterscotch - Use a French Roast, a Breakfast Blend, a Caramel coffee - whatever base flavor you wish to start with. For iced coffee, let the coffee cool somewhat and put your ice in. Smuckers has a great Caramel and Butterscotch toppings that are on sale for a bit. I bought two, and will buy one more to last me until next summer, when they will be available again. Spoon two spoonfuls of Caramel or Butterscotch into your glass/cup. Again, I use evaporated milk. Very tasty and low calorie. The Caramel Smuckers I use is sugar free, but it is 90 calories a serving.

3: Peppermint  and Chocolate Peppermint - a peppermint stick in the hot coffee will be very tasty. Until they come up with a peppermint liquid, I use a stick. Candy Canes are best bought, yeah Christmas time. Peppermint Starlights also work but are pretty bulky, but if you don't mind candy bits in the bottom, they are yummy. If you are lactose negative, Peppermint Starlights contain added lactose.  Peppermint and chocolate syrup, whipped cream, light cream, half and half or evaporated milk added to a French Roast base!

4: Pumpkin Spice - sometimes, I can find a pumpkin spice blend. But if not, in the Autumn, this is very tasty. Start with your fave base coffee flavor. To the grounds, add:

Some ground cinnamon, cloves and a dash of nutmeg.  You will likely want to add a bit more when the coffee has brewed, while it is still hot. For iced, add while hot, then add whatever condiment flavors you wish with it - cream, whipped cream, and so on.

5: Vanilla - Vanilla is a great flavoring with Hazelnut, and Vanilla Coffees, or non-flavored coffees.

6: Orange - I used real orange extract the other day for a pot of French Roast. I put some orange extract directly into the grounds, then added more into the pot, and one more dose into the hot cup. Orange extract is 79 percent alcohol, so beware.

7: Speaking of alcohol, Raspberry Chambord, a liquor, would also be terrific. You can add just a dab for some flavor, or, in the winter months, a shot of Raspberry Chambord into the hot pot and some additional liquor into your hot or iced cup, with cream, whipped cream or evaporated milk, is a great way to beat the chill.

8: Irish Coffee, Scotch Coffee, Cognac, and Bourbon Coffee: Either real Irish whiskey, a partial shot - unless you are brave and go the full monty for an entire shot of Irish in your hot or iced cup - base flavor your choice,  - or you can add Bailey's Irish Creme. Scotch, Brandy/Cognac, and Bourbon are also great choices. I do like an occasional whisky jazzed coffee, but wow, it will make you sleepy! But what a way to become sleepy!

9: Cider Cafe - I am wondering about a small amount of unfiltered cider into the pot of hot coffee. Add a bit of cinnamon and cloves for added flavor.

10: Eggnog - either with booze or without booze. If you want a dash of coffee into your eggnog, pour a jigger of hot or cold coffee into a glass or mug of Egg Nog. I try not to have much Egg Nog, because even though it is super delicious, it is so fattening as to not be funny. Or, if you would like a dash of Egg Nog into your coffee, (the reverse proportions), use mostly coffee with a jigger of Egg Nog.

So there you have it. Bottoms up! Cheerz!

I am finishing my second 16-ounce iced Caramel sauce/caramel spice coffee with evaporated milk.