A 2019 survey found that 29 percent of coffee drinkers drink at least two cups of coffee at home in a week. That’s a lot of coffee indoors. If you’re one of these folks, the following will help you make better-tasting coffee.
Good Water
When you drink coffee, most of it is water, which is the reason you need to make sure your water is high quality.
If your water has an off taste or anything like that, then your coffee is going to have that same taste. Get natural spring water or water from an artisanal well. You could also buy purified water. Just make sure your water tastes good.
Use Coffee Bags
Some coffee aficionados will say that you need grinders, fresh coffee beans, and a scale to make great coffee at home. You’ll need these to grind your coffee to the perfect fineness and weigh it perfectly.
All this sounds complicated, and it is, especially when you can just use coffee singles bags. The coffee in these bags is ground perfectly and weighted for you. All you need to do is use the coffee bag like you would a teabag.
Perfect Temperature
The next thing to worry about is the temperature of your water. Coffee drinkers may not consider the temperature of the water when making coffee. Some people just wait for the water to boil and start making their coffee.
While this is more than effective, it isn’t great if you want better coffee. If your water goes beyond 205 degrees Fahrenheit, then too much bitterness will be extracted. If it’s below 195 degrees Fahrenheit, then most of the coffee goodness won’t get extracted.
Clean the Pot
Those who use devices like coffee makers or coffee pots will need to clean these items every time they use them. The reason deals with the coffee itself. Every time it’s brewed, a little of the coffee’s natural oil is left behind.
After a while, that oil is going to start affecting the way your next brew taste. At some point, age is going to create an aftertaste you won’t like. You won’t be able to figure it out, and it won’t go away no matter how good of a coffee maker you are. The taste is in the device you use to make your coffee, so make sure you clean after every use.
Storing Right
Whatever type of coffee you make at home, make sure you store it properly. For one, don’t freeze your coffee as it might absorb water, and that will degrade the taste.
You don’t want to store it in the fridge because it’ll absorb the flavors in your fridge. Keep coffee in a dark and dry container. Don’t store where the sun might hit your coffee. If you do all this, your coffee will taste better.
Experiment
One thing you can do to make better coffee at home is just experiment. You don’t know how much better your coffee can be if you just go outside your comfort zone. Try that coffee blend you’ve never tried before. Make it a point to try as many as possible.
Consider adding little things to your coffee you hadn’t tried before, like a touch of cinnamon or nutmeg to see if you like these additions. Some folks even add a bit of chocolate. Maybe consider different creamers. These experiments may not always work, but there’s a chance that some will. You’ll never know unless you try.
Learn to Froth
If you like adding milk, then you have to learn to froth. Some machines can help you do this, or you can just invest in a milk frothing whisk. They are fun to use and can take your coffee-making game up a notch.
It does take some time to master this technique, but it’s worth it if you’re going to be making coffee at home. You want to rigorously whisk warmed milk until you see foam rise. Remove the foam and keep doing the same thing a few more times. Add the milk to your coffee, and top it all off with that foam you’ve been scooping out.
Now, you know what you need to do to make good coffee at home. If you want some additional suggestions, don’t be afraid to talk to a barista to see if there’s more you can do.
