Frugal Find Friday--Starbucks Barista Thermal Coffee Press

Time for another Frugal Find! This one is a real winner in my book.

I work at Starbucks. I don't really drink coffee and Mike doesn't drink it all, but I work at Starbucks! Funny, I know. When we do a coffee press for customers we use the Starbucks Barista Thermal Presses. They are heavy, double walled and are all stainless steel. We sell them from time to time, but often the only presses we have for sale are ones that have glass bodies. Personally, I do not like the glass bodied ones as they are not as insulating and they have been known to break. Many of my co-workers and their families scoop up the Barista when we have it since they get it for 30% off. Not being a big coffee drinker I have never felt the need to get one, even with my employee discount.

Now for the Frugal Find part of this post, otherwise titled "Why I now own a Coffee Press."

Bopping along from rummage sale to rummage sale on my way home from work as usual. I stop at a sale that doesn't really seem to have any kids stuff. No problem, I have some things on my list that are not for little guy and sometimes the non-kid sales are where you find that stuff at the best prices. A quick glance makes it seem like this is the typical knick knack, old pictures, and random junk kind of sale. I'm ready to scoot out, but then I see the press. I pick it up and see that it is the Barista, the one we use at work that is never in stock and people love. I take the press apart and everything looks to be in good shape. It needs a cleaning as the last person who cleaned it didn't get all traces of coffee residue out of the screen. (Important to get the best flavor out of the next press.) It is on a table with little glass odds and ends and other small pieces. I do not see a price, so I ask. She looks to the other ladies there and they all say its $1. $1? Seriously, one dollar. I give them my $1 and when I walk back to my vehicle I see the sign on the other side of the table that says "Everything is $1 on this table." So they weren't just making it up, they really did only want $1 for it. How they could price the press and the odd little glass saucer and the dollar store Santa the same price I have no idea!

When I told my manager that I bought a Barista at a rummage sale she was shocked. Then she wanted to know how much I paid, but before I could answer she said she didn't really know if she wanted to know....she knows my penchant for finding a good deal! When I informed her it was $1 she replied that I may have gotten the deal of the century. Of course, you and I both know it wasn't that, but it sure was a Frugal Find! I've cleaned up the inside and it is in perfect shape. I haven't polished up the outside, but that will happen soon. I will probably keep this to serve coffee when we have guests. The best way to get the true flavor of any coffee is to serve it in a press. However, if I find someone who would really appreciate this I may pass it on with a few bags of Starbucks coffee!

Do you want to know what they sell for retail? They are not cheap. $49.95 is what they are priced on Starbucks merchandise website. Of course, this doesn't include shipping. Oh, and even at that price they are out of stock. Seriously, this is a popular coffee press!

I love Frugal Find Fridays! If you have any great deals to share from this week please let me know. I get as big of a high from other people's deals as I do from my own! If you want to see lots of other great deals from all over the place head over to Southern Hospitality.

Heather