Making your own kombucha can be a cost-effective way to get your hands on this delicious and healthy drink. But is it always cheaper to make kombucha at home?
In this blog post, we will compare the costs of buying and making kombucha so that you can make the best decision for your budget!
Is it Cheaper to Buy or Make Kombucha?
Making Kombucha from home does cost some investment (it can be done very cheaply), so initially, it is cheaper to just buy a bottle from the store. But, if you drink a lot of it, that cost quickly adds up. This generally makes it a LOT cheaper to make your own kombucha.
Let’s break it down.
What Does it Cost To Buy Kombucha In a Store?
The cost of kombucha varies significantly, depending on the brand. Some brands can charge anywhere from $3 to $5 or more per bottle.
Let’s assume a price of $4 a bottle to make things simpler. If you drink 1 bottle a day (like I do), that breaks down to:
$4 per day
$28 per week
$120 per month
$1,460 per year
Ouch…..
What Does it Cost To Make Your Own Kombucha?
Let’s assume you want to brew kombucha in your kitchen in the cheapest (but easiest) possible way.
SCOBY and Starter Liquid: $15
1 Gallon Jar, Cloth, and Rubber Band: $15
Black Tea Bags: $5
Organic cane sugar: $7
Total: $42
That’s it….. theoretically, after you purchase the jar, cloth, and rubberband, all you would need to buy are additional tea bags and sugar when you run out.
Better yet, you can purchase an “all-in-one” kit for $45 that has everything you need (and more) in one box, which is how I initially got started.
This makes making your own kombucha MUCH cheaper than buying it at the store.
Why is Store-Bought Kombucha So Expensive?
Store-bought kombucha is expensive. But why?
Branding
With kombucha becoming increasingly popular, big names such as Coca-Cola have entered the market, with it shipping kombucha worldwide and investing a great deal of money on marketing. Kombucha has become a high-end product because of its status as a premium product.
Labor Costs
Although the components aren’t pricey, brewing on a smaller scale necessitates someone being there to watch the brew and make modifications. The amount of time it takes to complete a batch can quickly add up, which is then reflected in higher prices for consumers.
Marketing Costs
Companies pay big money to advertise their products. This is especially true in grocery stores. They have to pay big to have the “best” shelf space so they’re in front of the most people.
