Menu
Author:
Melissa Collins
True coffee lovers understand that coffee isn’t just a pleasant morning beverage. Coffee is a magical energy-producing potion that grants us the ability to deal with difficult people and live our busy lives.
Becoming a coffee aficionado means that pre-ground coffee from a can at the grocery store will no longer cut it.
You will probably end up investing in some better coffee equipment and higher-quality whole beans.
To get the most out of every cup, follow these 7 easy tips for making better coffee at home.
#1 Splurge on the right beans. Buy freshly roasted whole coffee beans from a quality seller. There is a reason coffee shops roast and grind their own beans. The pre-ground coffee on the grocery shelf was probably ground months ago, leading to lackluster taste. Grinding your coffee beans immediately before brewing makes a massive difference in flavor.
#2 Don’t store your beans in a baggie. Now that you have fancy fresh coffee beans, you need to keep them correctly to preserve their flavor. If you like gadgets, get a vacuum sealed container with a one-way valve. If you like to go old school, a mason jar works perfectly and looks cute in your pantry.
#3 Don’t hoard your beans! Excellent coffee beans come with a premium price tag compared to the bargain-bin stuff most people drink, but that doesn’t mean you should save them for a special occasion. Even if you don’t grind them right away, the roasted beans will suffer a loss of flavor the longer they sit around unused. Treat yourself to the good stuff daily; that’s why you bought it.
#4 When it comes to brewing coffee, there is such a thing as “too hot.” Scalding hot coffee isn’t necessary for the perfect flavor. In fact, you want to stick around 200 degrees, just below boiling temps. If you boil water in a kettle for a pour-over, boil and then remove from heat for a few minutes to reach 200 degrees.
#5 This is going to sound odd, but, uh, wet your filter. This is no joke; the coffee filter itself has a flavor that needs to be rinsed away. Plus, a damp filter will hold on to the surface of your machine better for both drip-machines and pour-overs.
#6 Be fussy about your coffee to water ratio. You will want about ¼ cup of coffee for every 4 cups of water. However, everyone’s tastes are different, and you are free to play around with it a little to get the strength you’re looking for.
#7 Don’t pour your hot coffee into a cold mug. Coffee is like a gift you give yourself; treat it that way; heat up your cup. Pour hot water into the mug and let it sit for a minute or two, pour it out, and then fill with coffee. Perfection!