Coffee pod machine: cost per cup including the machine
Pod machines often look cheap because the machine is cheap, but the pods are a running cost. Converting everything to cost per cup makes comparisons fair.
Formulas
- Yearly cost = cups per day x 365 x pod price + machine price / years of use
- Cost per cup = yearly cost / (cups per day x 365)
Worked example
Machine $120, pods $0.70 each, two cups a day, five years of use. Pods cost 2 x 365 x $0.70 = $511 a year. The machine adds $120 / 5 = $24 a year. The total is $535 a year, or about $0.73 per cup.
Compare other ways the same way
Do the same arithmetic for ground coffee in a drip machine, a French press or instant coffee, using their equipment and consumable prices. The cheapest option depends on how many cups you drink and how much you value convenience.
Other things to check
- Whether compatible pods are widely sold and what they cost
- Pod recycling options
- Descaling and cleaning needs
- Standby power draw of the machine