Rule : Choose Good Coffee If It’s Within Your Budget
Snobbism among coffee drinkers can rival that of wine drinkers, but the fact is that an astonishing world of coffee tastes awaits anyone willing to venture beyond mass-marketed commercial brands. Specialty coffees that clearly state the country, region or estate of origin can provide a lifetime of tasting experiences. There are two major beans on the marketArabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are more widely produced, have a wider range of flavors and are generally considered the “better bean.” By all means, look for 100% pure Arabica beans. The cheap alternatives may contain Robusta beans, noted for their higher caffeine content but harsh flavors. “Nasty” is a term commonly linked to Robusta coffees by Arabica devotees. But these types of coffee can be expensive. If your barista budget has taken a hit, there are plenty of good grocery store brands that deliver your morning buzz at half the price of fancy beans.
How To Steam Or Froth Milk At Home
Steaming and frothing milk to your ideal consistency is cheap and easy. Here are the best affordable tools and methods for the job.
CHEAP: Use an at-home, electric milk frother. This handy machine does all the work for you to steam or froth milk.CHEAPER: A handheld milk frother easily froths your milk while its warming over a stovetop. CHEAPEST: Have a glass jar and a microwave? Use this useful hack to froth milk in the microwave without any additional tools.
Is Coffee An Important Part Of Your Day
If youre a serious coffee drinker like me, then you understand how important it is to have good coffee anytime you want it or need it. It took me years to understand what went into making a good coffee and to appreciate all the subtle differences you can find in coffee beans from around the world.
Good beans paired with the right roasting method can equal an amazing cup of coffee. And while it seems like a simple task, just like a fine wine needs a highly trained vinter, you need a coffee master skilled at roasting and blending beans for the optimal flavor profile.
In fact, we talk about coffee beans the same way we talk about wine grapes, referring to the varieties as varietals. Different varieties have distinct flavors, body , and other characteristics. The amount of acidity, bitterness , as well as differing amounts of caffeine all, make up the complex flavors that we have come to enjoy and expect in a good cup of coffee.
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Have Fun Beginning Your Coffee Journey
If you have been curious about how you can make quality-tasting coffee at home, there is no better time to get started. Now that you have a better understanding of what goes into making your favorite coffee taste so delicious, you can take the process into your own hands! Begin by making informed decisions about where your coffee comes from, and feel empowered making amazing coffee right in your own kitchen. Go ahead, indulge yourself!
Step : Clean Your Coffeemaker Often
Coffee beans have oil, Jazmin told us. If you dont wash your coffee potwell, then the oil is going to stay. The next day youre going to brew more coffee and the oil is going to affect the flavor. Thats why Brew Brew cleans their coffee and espresso machines daily. At home, Jazmin explained, if you dont clean your coffeemaker often, the coffee is going to taste like its burnt because of all the oil thats been left in the pot.
PRO TIP
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How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee
Making the perfect cup of coffee can be as complicated or as easy as you like. What you have to remember is its going to be perfect for your taste and your lifestyle.
That can mean elaborate equipment, grinders, and temperature controls. But tech junkie or coffee connoisseur, you can still make an amazing cup of coffee with a cone and filter if you just follow some simple guidelines.
- Use cold filtered water
- Measure your coffee- use 1 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6-8 ounces of water
- Water temperature needs to be between 195 degrees 205 degrees. If you boil water let it sit for 30 seconds before using it
- Rinse your filter with hot water before brewing. Use a good quality oxygen bleached filter.
- Pour just enough water over the grounds to let them bloom . After 20-30 seconds continue the pour over. This will get the most flavor from your coffee.
- Drink your freshly brewed coffee within 30 minutes of brewing. Dont let coffee sit in a brewer all day long. Make it as you need it.
You do have lots of options these days for making coffee just how you like it. Whether you grind your own beans or have a particular style of coffee maker you need to start with good coffee and good water.
How do you brew the perfect cup of coffee in your home? Id love to hear from you.
How To Grind Coffee Beans
Ask any barista worth their espresso about grinders, and theyll tell you a burr grinder is an infinitely better choice than a blade grinder. Unfortunately, burr grinders are costly, making them seem out of reach to the budget-conscious coffee consumers among us.
If youre willing to take the time to grind the beans by hand, you can find manual burr grinders for less than $15. An electric conical burr grinder will save you time and energy but cost you more money: anywhere from $80 to several hundred.
The coarseness of your coffee beans is critical to a good cup of coffee: Youll want a very fine grind for espresso, a medium grind for pour overs, and a coarse grind for French press coffee.
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Monin Syrups Vs Torani Syrups
Monin and Torani are two of the biggest names in the coffee syrup world. Both have hundreds of flavor options, both can be found around the world and both have incredibly powerfully flavored syrups. A little bit of either of these coffee syrup brands goes a long way.
When comparing Monin syrup to Torani syrup, you will find that the two brands are quite similar. A lot of the time, peoples preferences just come down to personal preferences of taste. You may love Monin coconut syrup while your best friend likes Torani coconut syrup better.
Availability can play a part in peoples loyalty to Monin versus Torani. Monin may be more popular in one part of the world while Torani lines the shelves of a different country.
Here are a few pros and cons for both Torani syrups and Monin Syrups so you can get a quick idea of the similarities and differences between the brands.
| Monin Coffee Syrups |
Tips That Will Change The Way You Brew Coffee At Home
Even a drip coffee machine can brew a cup with an artisanal flavor.
I love coffee, so I’m always testing new ways to make the best home-brewed cup of coffee.
There are a few techniques that can immediately improve the quality of your coffee, no matter how fancy your coffee machine is.
Here are five tips for making your drip coffee taste a whole lot better.
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General Coffee Tips And Precautions
If you are using pre-ground beans it is important to check for the expiry dates as pre grounded beans goes stale very quickly. If you are grinding the whole beans then make sure to read the instructions carefully on the coffee grinder.
- Make sure the quality of water is best for your cup.
- Experts believe that whole coffee beans are a sure shot way to produce the best flavor they last on an average of 10 days, sealed packed in an air tight container while the grounded beans only last a few days.
- Dark roasted beans always give you the best texture. Freshly roasted-dark beans have more active natural components enhancing the taste and quality.
- Burr coffee grinder gives consistency to the coffee grinds. Please grind the coffee beans just before brewing to maintain freshness and taste.
- The Bonavita and TechniVorm coffee makers have been approved by SCAA as best home brewer. These makers beat their competitors by having the ability to achieve optimal heating temperature of around 205 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring the maximum extraction from the grinds.
- Make sure to clean your coffee maker with lukewarm water and properly dry it before using the next time.
How To Make The Best Coffee At Home According To 6 Experts
For coffee lovers, there are few experiences more joyful than visiting a beloved café and enjoying a piping hot cup of godly nectar. But when it costs up to $5 a cup, depending on where you live, trying to recreate that experience at home is one of the easiest sounding ways there is to save a little cash.
Except it nearly never tastes as good, right? Why is that, aside from the fact that its a treat to have something made especially for us by someone else? In an effort to save our sanity and bank accounts, HuffPost went on a mission to find out.
We chatted with six people who would know they have, after all, made coffee a career. They are: Jeremy Lyman, co-founder of Birch Coffee, Michael Phillips, director of coffee culture for Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Naida Lindberg, cafe manager at Verve Coffee Roasters, Todd Carmichael, CEO and co-founder of La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Bailey Manson, education and service program manager at Intelligentsia Coffee and Emily Rosenberg, senior educator at Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
This crew of experts gave us the scoop on how to achieve coffee-shop levels of caffeination from the comfort of your own kitchen.
On some points, like the importance of proper tools, they were widely in agreement. All but one cited the pour over as their method of choice , and they were pretty much on the same page about their distaste for coffee in pod form. But in many cases, their reasonings and their ratios differed.
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S How To Brew Coffee At Home
There are all sorts of brewing coffee methods. Here, we would like to introduce 3 easy methods of brewing coffee at home.
Pour over coffee
When people imagine how to brew coffee, we believe that most people imagine pour over coffee at first. Set pour over cone over the pot or mug, set filter, put ground coffee beans, and pour hot water. It is easy method for coffee beginners.
To make pour over coffee, you just need dripper and filter. There are all sorts of filters and drippers such as paper filter, metal filter, or cloth filter. If you would like to pursue pour over coffee, you can try various filters.
Siphon is a magical brewing method like a science experiment. Hot water rises, coffee beans are mixed with hot water, and draw downward One of my favorite café serves siphon coffee. I have never get bored while my coffee is brewed.
To make siphon coffee, you need a lot of coffee equipment. Bulb, hopper, filter, bamboo paddle, heater, and so on. They look really a science experiment! Once you prepare all the equipment, how to brew siphon coffee is not so difficult.
French press
Some may not familiar with this brewing method. In fact, it is very easy way! You just put ground coffee beans and hot water into a pot, and press filter. French press coffee has various taste of coffee beans including oily components.
To make French press coffee, you only need a French press coffee maker. So, it is also an easy method of how to brew coffee at home.
Rule 6 Avoid Cheap Filters
Bargain-priced paper coffee filters yield inferior coffee, according to the experts. Look for “oxygen-bleached” or “dioxin-free” paper filters . Alternatively, you may wish to invest in a long-lived gold-plated filter . These are reputed to deliver maximum flavor, but may let sediment through if the coffee is ground too finely.
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Find The Right Recipe
When making your everyday brew, Markiewicz says “the perfect cup of coffee is no accident.” So, it’s all about the recipe. He recommends a ratio of one part coffee to 15 to 18 parts water. “This is where a scale comes in handy. I brew in a relaxed, controlled manner with water 20 seconds off-boil. My grind particle size rests somewhere between the size of sand and kosher salt,” he said.
However, when it comes to more creative recipes to make you feel like you’ve been transported to your favorite cafe, Markiewicz has a recipe suggestion. “I am a coffee purist, but if you whisk an ounce of Frangelico into a cup of heavy cream with a dash of confectioners’ sugar, you end up with a warming, rich, delicious topping for drinks of all kinds. Alternatively, you can also grab an Oatmilk Draft Latte,” he said.
And if you want to take your coffee game to the next level, try the recipe that is taking over TikTok. Dubbed dalgona coffee, due to its similarity to a Korean candy with a sponge-like texture, this drink consists of a frothy, whipped coffee mixture served over milk. Most recipes call for one tablespoon of instant coffee or espresso, one tablespoon of sugar, and one tablespoon of hot water. Mix the ingredients together and use an immersion blender, milk frother, or whisk and blend until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Pour over your choice of milk and serve.
Rule : Keep Coffee Beans Fresh
Always store opened coffee beans in an airtight container. Glass canning jars or ceramic storage crocks with rubber-gasket seals are good choices. Never refrigerate . Flavor experts strongly advise against ever freezing coffee, especially dark roasts. Optimally, buy a five- to seven-day supply of fresh beans at a time and keep them at room temperature.
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What Youll Need To Make Drip Coffee:
- Auto-Drip coffee maker
- Paper Filter
- Water
- 1.5 Tablespoons of your favorite Prime Roast Coffee per cup of water
Time needed: 10 minutes.
How to Brew Good Drip Coffee
Buy exceptionally good coffee. Use a medium grind. Pro tip: The closer you grind your beans to the time of brewing, the fresher the taste.
Use filtered water. The water you use can greatly affect the taste of your joe.
Refrain from setting up your coffee too early. We know its tempting to prep those grounds and water the night before. However, the flavor of the brew will be better if you hold out until morning.
Turn off the heat when done brewing. The longer your coffee stays on the burner, the less wonderful it will taste.
Clean your machine once a month. Brew a full pot of cleaning mixture: one part vinegar to two parts water. Finish by brewing a full pot of hot water.
Buy Whole Bean Coffee
When it comes to coffee, its OK to splurge. As Jazmin told us, if you want a good cup of coffee, you need good coffee beans. Thats why Jazmin and Christian buy all of the coffee and espresso beans used at Brew Brew from a Chicago-based, small-batch artisan coffee roaster. If you cant find a local coffee roaster in your area, you can still make high-quality coffee at home by purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding the coffee beans yourself. Why whole bean coffee? Compared to ground coffee, whole bean coffee is fresher and more flavorful.
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Step : Buy Whole Bean Coffee
When it comes to coffee, its OK to splurge. As Jazmin told us, if you want a good cup of coffee, you need good coffee beans. Thats why Jazmin and Christian buy all of the coffee and espresso beans used at Brew Brew from a Chicago-based, small-batch artisan coffee roaster. If you cant find a local coffee roaster in your area, you can still make high-quality coffee at home by purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding the coffee beans yourself. Why whole bean coffee? Compared to ground coffee, whole bean coffee is fresher and more flavorful.
What Is Cold Brew Coffee
Thats an important question. Because cold brew coffee is not the same as drip coffee or regularly brewed hot coffee thats been cooled or served over ice. Nope.
Cold brew coffee never gets hot. Instead of brewing in just a few minutes, its slow-brewed and steeped over 12-15 hours. This translates to coffee thats slightly less acidic and bitter. Instead, its sweeter, more full-bodied in flavor, and truly the best when it comes to iced coffee.
But heres why youre really gonna love cold brew coffee. You can make a batch on Sunday and have fresh, homemade cold brew for the entire week. Yes, you can meal prep coffee. Awesome, right?
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Can You Put Hot Coffee On Ice
Technically, you can simply pour hot coffee over ice. But I wouldn’t recommend it!
The ice will water down your coffee, and it won’t get as cool either … and perfect Iced Coffee needs to be quite cold.
If you’d prefer to make your drink with hot coffee, then I’d recommend using coffee ice cubes instead of regular ones … that way your coffee won’t be diluted and watery tasting. To make coffee ice cubes, simply fill an ice cube tray with leftover coffee, then freeze overnight.
In the morning, stir a few coffee ice cubes into your freshly-brewed coffee. The cubes will cool off your coffee without watering down the flavor like regular ice would. Once your coffee has cooled, stir in sugar and milk to taste, then top off with regular ice or more coffee ice cubes.