Coffee true cost calculator: pods vs beans vs drip
What does a cup of coffee really cost at home? Compare pods, drip and bean-to-cup over five years, including the machine, from sourced prices.
Calculator based on dated prices and stated coffee doses, not hands-on testing. How we research · How links work
The short answer
Drip coffee is the cheapest at about $0.27 a cup. Pods cost about $0.90 (Nespresso Original) to $1.40 (Vertuo) a cup. At two cups a day for five years, that is roughly $1024.55 for drip against $5269.95 for Vertuo, machine included.
Your cost per cup
Total, machine included
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Five-year cost by method
| Method | Per cup | Example machine | 2 cups a day, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pods: Nespresso Original | $0.90 | $239.00 | $3524.00 |
| Pods: Nespresso Vertuo | $1.40 | $159.95 | $5269.95 |
| Drip machine, ground coffee | $0.27 | $50.00 | $1024.55 |
| Bean to cup, whole beans | $0.37 | $500.00 | $1850.50 |
Machine prices are examples you can change: Nespresso Pixie $239 and Vertuo Pop+ $159.95 at Macy's (15 Oct 2026); $50 and $500 are round example prices for a basic drip machine and an entry bean-to-cup machine. Milk, filters, descaler and electricity are not included. Download the data: CSV · JSON.
Where to buy capsules
Links go to the seller or a search on the seller's site. Prices change often; the date shows when we last checked the listing.
Nespresso Original espresso capsules, 50 count (for example Ispirazione Firenze Arpeggio)
Espresso capsules for Original machines. The listing states a 1.35 oz serving.
- Macy's$45.00 listed on 15 October 2026
- Nespresso
- Amazon.com
Lungo capsules in the same range were listed at $47.50 for 50.
Nespresso Vertuo coffee capsules, 40 count (for example Melozio)
Coffee capsules for Vertuo machines. The Melozio listing states a 7.7 oz capsule yield.
- Macy's$56.00 listed on 15 October 2026
- Bloomingdale's$56.00 listed on 15 October 2026
- Nespresso
- Amazon.com
Other Vertuo sizes, such as espresso or XL capsules, are priced differently.
Common questions
Are coffee pods more expensive than ground coffee?
Yes, per cup. Nespresso Original capsules work out at about $0.90 a cup and Vertuo at $1.40 from the prices we checked, while drip coffee made with average US ground coffee is about $0.27 a cup.
Does a bean-to-cup machine pay for itself?
Only over several years and at higher daily use. The machine costs more up front, so compare the five-year totals in the table with your own number of cups.
Where do the coffee prices come from?
Capsule prices are dated retailer prices. Ground coffee uses the US Bureau of Labor Statistics average retail price per pound, at 13 g per 240 ml cup for drip and 18 g for a double espresso.
