Latte art in a white mug on a dark wooden table, seen from above — Photo: Lex Sirikiat / Unsplash

Free tool

Espresso cost per shot calculator

Compare a home espresso setup with a cafe habit and see how many months it takes to pay for itself. Change any number.

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Your numbers

Home setup

Setup cost ($)Starting value: Breville Bambino ($299.95) + Baratza Encore ESP ($199.95), maker list prices checked Oct 17, 2026.

Coffee bag price ($)Starting value: $9.33 per pound, U.S. city average retail price, 100% ground roast coffee, per pound, September 2026 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000717311). Specialty whole beans usually cost more; use your own price.

Bag size (grams)454 g = 1 lb, 340 g = 12 oz

Coffee per drink (grams)A typical double shot uses 14 to 20 g

Milk per drink ($)Your estimate; set 0 for straight espresso

Upkeep per year ($)Your estimate for cleaning tablets, descaler, gaskets, water filters

Cafe habit

Cafe drink price ($)Starting value: Average U.S. latte price, Jul to Sep 2024 transactions (Toast, Coffee pricing report)

Drinks per day

Days per week

Home cost per drink: Turn on JavaScript to calculate
Cafe spend per month: -
Home cost per month (with upkeep): -
Monthly saving: -
Payback: -
Net after 1 year: -
Net after 3 years: -

Payback on a 36-month scale

The formula

Home cost per drink = bag price / bag grams x grams per drink + milk. Drinks per month = drinks per day x days per week x 52 / 12. Payback in months = setup cost / (cafe spend per month - home spend per month). Electricity and your time are not included.

No JavaScript? Do it by hand: at 18 g per drink and $9.33 per 454 g, coffee costs $0.37 per drink. Against a $5.60 cafe drink, five days a week, a $499.90 setup with $0.30 of milk per drink and $60 a year of upkeep pays back in about 4.9 months.

Pick real gear for your budget with the Setup Builder, or see espresso machines under $500.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a shot of espresso cost at home?

Coffee is the main cost. At $9.33 per pound (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000717311, September 2026) and 18 g per drink, the coffee in one drink costs about $0.37. Specialty beans cost more, so enter your own price.

Does the calculator include electricity?

No. It counts the setup, coffee, milk and the upkeep you enter.

Where do the starting values come from?

The setup cost is the sum of two maker list prices from our catalog. The cafe price and coffee price are cited above with their sources and periods. Change any of them.