Learn To Make Coffee Shop Drinks
The Spruce / Leah Maroney
Watch the barista at the coffee shop whip up a few drinks, and you’ll realize that they’re not complicated. There are many ways that you can easily create coffee shop drinks at home.
For instance, a latte requires foamed milk, which requires a whisk and a saucepan. A café Americano can be made with a stovetop espresso pot and a teapot of water. Do you like flavored drinks? Syrups are the secret! Once you figure them out, you’ll enjoy making them and save a lot of money in the process.
Best Way To Make Coffee: Barista Secrets And Tips
The best way to make coffee shouldnt be a secret kept from us, yeah?
Today you dont need to ask grandma how to make good coffee or the secret recipe passed from generation to generation. Well, thanks to digital media. However, all recipes online are not worth trying, because everyone has a unique palate.
Then how do cafes and restaurants ALWAYS serve the perfect cup of coffee to everyone?
Good question!
I will share some barista secrets and tips, and the best coffee recipe with you. My professional barista friend has the crown for sharing it all with me. But first, lets dig into how baristas handle it differently from us.
Brew Type : Aeropress
I would compare Aeropress with V60. With Aeropress, you will get strong, rich, and thicker coffee.
You Need
- Bottled spring water
- Ground beans
Method
Follow this method if you are wondering how to make a cup of coffee step by step.
- Bring 300 ml water to boil in a kettle. Turn off the heat and leave covered for 30 seconds.
- Adjust your circular Aeropress filter in the detachable plastic cap. Now pour a little water on filter to make it wet. Discard this water.
- After assembling, put 18 grams coffee. The beans should be very finely ground, finer than salt.
- Add 36 grams water to coffee and wait. Yes, its the bloom process.
- After 30 seconds, add rest of the water and wait for 1 minute.
- Stir your coffee, reattach the cap and put your Aeropress on a cup. Now you have to apply slight pressure downwards.
- Serve and enjoy your cup!
Tip: To know if the grind you are using is perfect for Aeropress, check resistance when you apply downward pressure. If it is pressed easily, it means the coffee is coarse and you will need finer ground next time. Too much resistance means you need a little coarse ground. Little resistance means the grid size is perfect for Aeropress.
You May Like: Is There Caffeine In Snapple
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.
How And When You Grind Matters
Grind your coffee immediately before brewing for maximum flavor.
Experts say coffee begins to lose its flavor within 30 minutes of being ground. This being the case, it’s best to grind on the spot, just before brewing a pot.
Grind size and consistency matter quite a bit, as well. Grind too coarse and you will have a weak pot of coffee. Grind too fine and you will over-extract the coffee and it will taste bitter. Most drip coffee makers call for a medium to medium-fine grind.
Unless you want to spend upward of $100 on a quality automatic burr grinder, a manual hand mill is the most affordable way to achieve a nice, consistent grind, though they do require a small amount of manual labor.
Blade grinders also work, but will produce inconsistent particle size, which can lead to over-extraction.
Also Check: Homemade Kahlua With Everclear
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 you’re 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 Make A Really Good Cup Of Drip Coffee
This piece originally appeared on Needsupply.com.
Yes, a carefully brewed pour-over is glorious. And silky, rich espresso from a machine that looks to be distantly related to a Ferrari, nirvana. Theres also the tinny-but-charming old-world moka, cold brew magic and other chemistry set coffee wizardry. But the auto drip filter, still the most ubiquitous method in most countries, has carried a pall of inferiority for too long, its stigma invariably conjuring up the indifferent sludge of late-night diners and truckstops.
With a little care and a halfway decent machine, though, perfectly good filter coffee is possible. Though it certainly cant trump other, more deliberate methods for out and out flavor, a couple tweaks to your auto drip technique can make for many cups of drinkable, satisfying and convenient joe. Still, it is more of an active process than dumping in some Folgers and hitting brew.
Here are a few simple steps for making much better drip coffee.
2. Use quality coffee. As with any brewing method, raw material is essential. No need to spring for the ultra-premium $$$ stuff, as the drip technique wouldnt really make the most of its subtle complexities, but a good premium brand like Illy or a favorite from your local roaster will walk all over that tin of Yuban.
Also Check: Root Beer Caffeine Amount
How To Make Coffee In A Traditional Coffee Maker
A classic coffee maker may not seem like the most exciting way to make coffee these days but, with just a few simple steps, you can turn that slightly bland cup of joe into a fantastically flavorful brew. Drip coffee makers are easy to clean and come in a variety of sizes with varying extra gadgets.
When using this type of machine, you dont have control over how long the coffee brews or the temperature of the water, so its important to control what you can. This means it all comes down to the type of coffee beans used, the grind of those beans and the coffee-to-water ratio.
Be Mindful About Water And Sweeteners
Water options aren’t all equal, and the one you opt for can have a marked impact on the taste of your coffee. “Since water is the main ingredient in coffee, you want to make sure you’re treating it with as much care as you do your beans,” says Winzelberg. “If you can avoid using straight tap water that’s best, either install a filter on your kitchen sink or you can use a bottled mineral water.”
The sweetener you opt for is also critical. “Use liquid sweeteners to avoid sugar sitting at the bottom of your coffee, especially for cold coffee drinks,” Winzelberg says. “You can use a simple syrup, or if you prefer, use a low-calorie sweetener. There are monk fruit sweeteners, which are all-natural, no calories, and high in antioxidants.”
Read Also: Is There Caffeine In Snapple
How To Spice Up Your Coffee
The Matter Of The Water
Water makes a huge different to a cup of coffee and a common mistake a lot of people make when trying to make the perfect cup of coffee is that they dont use fresh water. Did you know that each time you boil water, oxygen escapes and the taste changes? So, consider that water thats been sitting in your kettle, constantly being re-boiled throughout the day. Each time youre re-boiling it, youre actually completely changing the taste!
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Verismo Coffee Pods
Youve Got To Find The Perfect Ratio Of Coffee To Water
It seems everyone we spoke to varied slightly when it comes to the gold standard of coffee to water ratios. Carmichael was steadfast in his assessment of one part coffee to 17 parts water for hot coffee and 1:9 for a cold brew. Rosenberg called the industry standard 1:16, while Lindberg said 1:15.
Theyre close enough margins to experiment for yourself, sure, but not precise. Its an interesting notion when you consider how precisely they all agree one should be when measuring coffee.
The Well Equipped Guide To Making The Perfect Cup Of Coffee
Coffee is a liquid chemical that you pour down your throat mindlessly and in massive quantities.
Sometimes.
But sometimes not. Sometimes coffee is a 20-minute session of self-care. Sometimes it’s one perfect cup of an elixir that gives you power for the rest of the day. Do you sometimes gulp your coffee in the car while going 70 on the expressway? Sure. But sometimes you pay attention to it, and treat it like the lifelong friend that it is.
Our Well Equipped Guide to Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee asks an ambitious question: can our coffee be great not just sometimes, but all the time? The answer is yesonce you make some considerations.
First, you have to consider your coffee maker. Does it make good coffee? And what even is good coffee? The answer is not the same for everyone. There are practically as many machines and mechanisms for making coffee as there are fish in the sea. Or stars in the sky. Or Marvel movies. We’ll outline these for you and help you pick one that works for your life.
Next, we’ll move on to beans. There are days when only the artisanal stuff will do, and days when you just need to grab something from the grocery store that’s not going to taste awful. We’ve got you covered there, too, with our guides to selecting beans and roasters.
Also Check: Can You Have Coffee After Wisdom Teeth
An Overview Of Coffee Brewing Methods
Whether its a basic drip machine, a French press or a high-end espresso maker, learning how to make the best coffee at home comes down to preference. If you ask, youll find most coffee lovers are certain their method is best. Some methods involve simple gravity, and others tap into high-tech physics.
When choosing a coffee brew method and coffee maker, consider your morning routine and the flavor profile of your ideal cup of coffee. Some coffee drinkers want their coffee as quickly as possible . Others like a smooth, bold cup of great coffee that takes a bit extra time to brew. Experiment with a few methods to see what you likeit all boils down to your personal preferences and your tastes.
Here are some of the more common brew methods to help you narrow down your options.
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 30-45 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 Peets Coffee has got you covered and will help you make the perfect cup of coffee in your home, starting with the most important ingredient, the coffee.
How do you brew the perfect cup of coffee in your home? Id love to hear from you.
If youre looking for treats to go along with your coffee you may like these:
Don’t Miss: How Much Caffeine Is In Sonic Iced Coffee
Fully Saturate Your Coffee
When brewing coffee, you want to make sure all of the ground coffee is in contact with water for the same amount of time. And while when you first add water to your pour over or French press, it may seem like the coffee is fully saturated, its not uncommon to find pockets of dry coffee. The best way to make sure all your coffee gets wet is to give your coffee a brief, light stir right after you add your water during the bloom phase.
Buy Fresh Whole Bean Coffee
A cup of coffee is only as good as the beans you start with.
If you’re buying bags of preground coffee, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, start with fresh, whole beans.
There’s a reason most coffee companies don’t provide the date for when the coffee was roasted the stuff you find on the shelf in the grocery store has probably been there for months. Coffee reaches its peak flavor just days after it has been roasted and should be consumed within a month of its roast date.
To find fresh coffee, check local coffee shops. Some roast on the spot or source from local roasters who roast in smaller batches, which typically means fresher coffee.
Also Check: Is There Caffeine In Snapple
S To The Perfect Brew
The steps to follow for brewing a pot of coffee will vary depending on your machine, so the first step is to read the instructions that came with your coffee maker. The following are general guidelines for how to brew the perfect cup of coffee:
Newsletter
How To Make Coffee With A Coffee Maker
Even if you have been brewing coffee for years, these tips and tricks will teach you how to make coffee with a coffee maker better. Ready for the best coffee of your life?
Like a cantankerous zombie you shuffle your way into the kitchen each morning uttering a series of reflexive moans and groans. Only casually aware of your consciousness, you brew yourself a bitter pot of black elixir that alone can revive your mortality. Repeating this same routine every morning since reaching adulthood, your semi-comatose corpse has never questioned if there is a better way. After all, if it wakes you up what is there to improve?
The truth is, you can brew the best tasting cup of coffee of your life with your home coffee maker, and for less money than you are currently paying for your stale pre-ground coffee beans. Oh, you didn’t know you were buying stale coffee beans? Read on…
Recommended Reading: How Much Caffeine Is In Sonic Iced Coffee