What better way to start the day than by having a steaming cup of aromatic fresh coffee. It freshens you up and gives you the energy you need to get through the day. Coffee available at cafes is of course delicious and convenient. However, spending money at coffee shops regularly can be rather expensive and thus not feasible for everyone. The good news is that with the right tools and ingredients, you can make your perfect cup of joe at home. The best part is that this gives you full freedom and control over the method you want to employ and the taste you wish to achieve. If you get the hang of it, you can enjoy an equally delicious (if not more) cup of coffee, as that made by your favorite baristas.
Here are some tips and steps through which you can make and enjoy a flavorful cup of coffee at home.
1. Choose High-Quality Whole Beans
The first step to making great coffee is to get whole bean coffee. When the beans are grounded, they begin to oxidize and lose flavor (after two to three weeks). The reason you often don’t find the date of roasting on the packets of grounded coffee is that they have likely been there for months. So if you intend to purchase coffee from roasters, make sure you get it from those who roast in small batches or do it on the spot when needed. Remember, fresh ground coffee always smells better and tastes better.
2. Use an Efficient Grinder
If you get ground coffee from the roasters, keep it in an airtight jar so that it retains its flavor and freshness. However, it is recommended to grind the whole beans yourself right before brewing. This lets you grind the beans according to the size and texture that’s most suitable for your preferred brewing method. A burr grinder is the best tool for the purpose. It keeps the beans from overheating and grinds them in uniform size. However, if that is not available, you can also use a simple hand-cranked grinder (although it may require some manual labor).
3. Use Filtered Water
Your coffee largely comprises water. Thus the quality of the water you use is pivotal to making the best cup of coffee. The flavor of tap water varies from location to location. Also, tap water has chlorine, fluoride, and dirt particles which can negatively affect the taste of your coffee. To avoid this problem, always use clean and filtered water for your coffee.
4. Use a Scale
Many people make the mistake of measuring their coffee by using a spoon or simply by eyeballing it. This often results in the wrong coffee ratio being used. To get a perfect cup of joe, it is important to be accurate in terms of measurements. Even a difference of a few grams can change the ratio by a huge margin. So to get the measurements right, always use a scale.
Pick your Brewing Method and Follow Instructions
Although all the above-mentioned steps are of great significance, at the end of the day it is the brewing method that makes all the difference to your coffee. It is therefore imperative to choose a method that is appropriate for your coffee type and one that enhances its natural flavor and qualities.
For those who prefer light roast, we recommend drip-brew and pour-over methods while cold brew, French press, and drip-brew are suggested for those who have a liking for dark roast. Similarly, pour-over, French press, and drip-brew methods work best for medium roast coffee while Fresh press and cold brew are suitable for French/Italian roast coffee.
Whatever method you choose, research the instructions and best practices for it and then implement them accurately.
Conclusion
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee is all about getting the right equipment and products and mastering the techniques of the method. Don’t expect to get barista-grade coffee the first time around. Remember, practice makes perfect. The proverb certainly holds true when it comes to the process of coffee-making. You may make mistakes the first few times but if you keep at it, you'll be a pro in no time.