Those long lines at the local coffee shop. The ever-increasing price of your favorite cup of java. The fact that you work from home and don’t need (or want) to leave the house in the morning …
There are endless reasons to want to enjoy a cup of coffee from home, but a lot of people just don’t know how to make one.
If you’re ready to become your own best barista, here are nine ways to brew better coffee at home.
1. Buy Fresh, Whole Beans
A great tasting cup of coffee starts with fresh, whole beans. Whether you prefer a light roast or a dark roast, an Americano or a mocha, you simply can’t skimp on the beans.
When buying beans at your local grocer or coffee house, pay special attention to the best by date or Julian date (which lets you know when the beans were roasted). The fresher the beans, the better the cup.
2. Invest in a Burr Grinder
Regardless of the beans you buy, you’ll need to grind them before you can brew a cup. And that blade grinder you have on your kitchen counter just isn’t good enough.
If you want to make a spectacular cup of coffee at home, invest in a Burr grinder. Burr grinders allow you to grind at a coarse level or a fine level to suit different brewing methods.
3. Get a Scale
Using the right proportions of grinds to water is key to making an incredible cup of coffee. And to do that, you need a scale.
Invest in a digital scale so that you can properly measure your coffee grounds. Without a scale, it’s a guessing game, sort of like trying to make pancakes or cupcakes without a measuring spoon to measure out the proper amount of flour.
4. Upgrade Your Coffee Maker
As much as you may not want to hear this, it’s time to ditch the coffee pods and K-cup machines. There are so many ways to brew coffee that it’s time you learn how to do it the right way.
The next time you head to your local coffee shop, watch how your barista makes your coffee. Do they pull a shot of espresso in an espresso machine? Do they use the pour-over method? Do they use a French press?
Learn how your favorite coffee drink is made and buy a machine that makes it that way.
5. Learn How to Steam and Froth Milk
If you love a café latte, macchiato, or café au lait, you’ll need to learn how to steam or froth milk.
Some coffee machines come with built-in milk frothers, but you can steam and froth your own milk right on your stovetop.
It takes some trial and error to get it just right, but that’s sort of the beauty of it. The time you put into perfecting the process only makes it more worth the effort!
6. Use Filtered Water
Depending on where you live, your tap water may include bits of aluminum, copper, herbicides, and even lead — all of which can affect the taste of your coffee.
A cup of coffee is made up of predominantly water, so the water you use to brew your cup has a significant effect on the overall taste.
Use purified water or water filtered through a Brita or similar filtration system to produce the tastiest cup.
7. Use the Right Water Temperature
The temperature of the water also matters. The colder your water, the more likely you’ll end up with under-extracted coffee. On the other hand, water that is too hot can also reduce the quality of taste.
To make the perfect cup of coffee at home, you’ll need to be sure that your water is at the perfect temp, which usually is somewhere between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Experiment
Making coffee is NOT an exact science, so be willing to experiment with different beans, different grind sizes, and different brewing methods.
The best way to learn anything is to experiment — and coffee is no different. Test out different roasts and different beans. Sample different brewing methods. Try adding different types of dairy or non-dairy additives to your cup.
The more you experiment, the more you’ll learn about coffee and be able to hone in on your ideal cup.
9. Store Your Beans Properly
How you store your beans makes all the difference.
Coffee beans should always be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Don’t leave them on your kitchen counter. Don’t store them on a shelf near a window. Instead, store them in an airtight container on a dark shelf in your pantry. Coffee beans don’t necessarily “expire” but they do go stale, so if you’re going to invest in good beans, be sure to store them the right way.
Conclusion
Though it can take some practice and experimentation, making a great cup of coffee is easier than you may think. With fresh beans, a grinder and scale, and purified water at the right temperature, anyone, anywhere can learn how to make a great cup of coffee at home.
