Good Morning, Karrie:

Likely that article was written by trained volunteers in the Metro Area or in Lane County.

In my view, that recipe is a bit too rich. I would recommend by volume 

• 6 parts leaves
• 3 parts grass
• 1 part coffee grounds
  

I set leaves aside during the season, and store up a container made of wood pallets, tied together at the corners. This provides plenty of leaves for a year's worth of composting. I currently have 4 composters working. If your aspirations are less :), you might stow 2-3 trash bags of leaves in some inobtrusive corner of your garden plot.

For this year, though, try straw - much cheaper than hay. I prefer straw from small grains like wheat or oats, or ryegrass straw rather than bentgrass straw. I don't know of a science reason for my preference - probably just a personal quirk. Also, never forget the value of shredded office or newspaper in compost. It breaks down readily, however, so only choose this route if you have access to a continuous supply.

Of course McDonald's gives away coffee grounds - it reduces their cost of waste disposal. Some coffee grounds are okay in compost, though I have to say all things in moderation! Coffee grounds contain some small level of nitrogen - maybe up to 3%; this is about the same amount of nitrogen you'd get out of food scraps.

The greater the mix of items in your compost, the more likely you are to bring in a greater suite of essential plant nutrients. So, yes to leaves, grass, coffee grounds, straw, paper and anything else that will decay that can be put into the mix.