Coffee Tips And Tricks You Can Do At Home
Whether you want to save money making coffee at home or simply don’t want to have to get in the car to get a caffeine fix, there are many ways to ensure homemade coffee tastes as good (if not better) than the local coffee shop you frequent.
So, how can you improve your coffee at home?
Here are some tips and tricks.
Utilize Different Coffee Makers
When there are so many options out there, why settle for one kind of coffee maker? Some of the most popular kinds of home coffee makers include:
Drip Coffee Makers
Drip coffee makers are most common in the American household for their affordability, ease of use, and durability. Plus, many drip coffee makers include the option to preset your coffee the night before to brew the next morning. These coffee makers are good for large families because they can brew up to 12 cups at a time.
K-Cup Coffee Makers
K-cup coffee makers are perfect for smaller households or for those who only need a cup or two of coffee a day. Not only are these coffee makers on the less expensive side, but they make the perfect cup of coffee each time because of the K-cups they use. There are tons of websites like KoobiesCoffee.com that can help you to sort through and decide which kind is right for you.
Espresso Machines
Espresso machines are on the more expensive side; however, they can be a huge plus if you’re trying to experiment with more ‘difficult’ coffee types. Espresso makers are key to making home coffee taste like it came right from your local coffee shop. But, they can be difficult to learn to use at first. As an added bonus, however, espresso machines have the capability to froth milk, which is typically used to create ‘latte art.’
Experiment With Different Types Of Coffee
While coffee at home can be as simple as brewing one cup or a pot, and, then, adding the desired amount of cream and sugar, it doesn’t always have to be as ‘boring’ as that. Other than black coffee, here are a few options to try making at home:
- Latte
- Cappuccino
- Americano
- Espresso
- Macchiato
- Mocha
- Flat White
- Irish
As with any coffee, these different types can be altered to suit specific preferences by switching out dairy additives, or adding flavors or extra espresso shots, among many others.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Espresso
Espresso can be used in any type of coffee, such as Americanos or macchiatos, but a lot of people are afraid to utilize espresso at home. Making an espresso at home, however, isn’t as complicated as one may think.
Here are a few simple steps to making espresso at home:
- Choose Roast: Espresso can be made out of any roast level—choose your favorite.
- Buy Beans: Buy the espresso beans (whole, not pre-ground) you intend to use.
- Grind Espresso: Use a grinder to grind the espresso on the finest setting until the beans resemble granulated sugar. Hint: one espresso shot uses seven grams of espresso.
- Prepare Espresso Machine: From here, your espresso machine will do the rest of the work.
- Add espresso to your regular cup of coffee!
Store Beans Correctly
When utilizing the many different kinds of coffee beans available, whole instead of ground, you must store those beans the correct way to ensure best results. While many may believe storing beans in the freezer is the best option, it’s actually better to store them in an airtight container at room temperature, or sealed tightly in the refrigerator.
If you haven’t tried whole Coffee beans vs ground coffee, here’s your chance. Pick out a bean grinder (there are many options on the market) and be sure to only grind the amount of beans you’ll be using immediately to guarantee freshness.
Use Coffee Ice Cube Tries
If you enjoy iced coffee in the summer only or year-round, a simple way to take your home coffee up a notch is to purchase an ice cube tray and replace the usual water with ready-made coffee. Then, when it comes time to add ice to your coffee, you won’t risk watering it down.
Add Your Own Flavor Syrup
It’s not just your local coffee shop that can utilize flavored syrups. If jazzing up your cup of coffee at home is the goal, purchase or make those flavored syrups and keep them on hand. There are many flavor options out there, such as the following:
- Caramel
- Coconut
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Raspberry
Flavor syrups are a simple way to bring any cup of coffee to the next level.
Conclusion
Too often, you’re tricked to believe that the best coffee is the kind bought at a coffee shop when, in reality, you have the capability to make a delicious cup of coffee from the comfort of your own home.
Take these tips and tricks into consideration and you’ll be on your way to a great cup of home-brewed coffee.
