Cup o' Joe

Since I'm a girl from Olympia, Washington, I knew of Starbucks long before Howard Schultz took over as CEO and made it the McDonald's of coffee. As I child, I even visited the original shop located at Pike Place Market in Seattle.

We all know that Starbucks has gotten pricey (did you know that coffee has one of the highest profit margins?). Our thrifty solution is to make espresso at home with a stovetop espresso maker as the Italians do.

It doesn't take much longer than brewing a pot of coffee, but alas, is does take longer than an automatic espresso machine. We, however, are not going to drop $500+ for a good machine.

You can find this type of espresso maker at grocery stores with kitchen sections and your favorite espresso joint. Now, grab the Sunday New York Times and head to the nearest coffee place, sit down and enjoy your fave hot beverage. Bring home a stovetop espresso maker and give it a try. You won't be sorry.