If you’re trying to save money, one of the easiest ways to trim expenses is to make your coffee at home. Believe it or not, you can make café-quality coffee at home by just doing a few simple things. No matter how basic of fancy your coffee machine is, the perfect at-home coffee is easier than you think!
– Buy your beans fresh and whole
Blackbearhartford says to invest in a grinder and buy coffee beans whole as close to the roasting date as possible. This will ensure that you get coffee at the peak of its flavor. When it’s already ground, it oxidizes which depletes the fresh taste you crave.
– Store your beans for primo freshness
Your beans should be locked away in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. A pantry is a great place for them.
– Don’t pre-grind your coffee
Coffee beans start to lose their flavor about 30 minutes after they’re ground. Always measure out just what you need to make your coffee and only grind up what’s needed.
– Grind it to the right size
Coarse grounds are ideal for a drip coffee maker, though they shouldn’t be too coarse or it will wind up being weak. Fine grinds are best for espresso, though if you go too fine, it over-extracts the coffee which creates a bitter taste.
– Measure coffee by weight
A digital scale is a handy tool in the kitchen for measuring coffee by weight rather than by its volume. The best ratio is one part coffee to 20 parts of water, though your taste buds may prefer a ratio of 1:14 or 1:30.
– Try pre-infusing your ground coffee
Once your coffee is ground, you should let it bloom. Simply pour hot water over your grounds. This helps it release any lingering carbon dioxide gas that was still trapped in from roasting. Simply add your filter and put in your coffee grounds. Heat a quarter of a cup of water to 200F and then slowly pour that hot water over the grounds. Let it sit for 45 seconds and then start your coffee maker. It’s life-changing!
– Make sure you have the right temperature
If you have an auto-drip coffee machine, you can check the water temperature. It should be at least 195F. Use a kitchen thermometer and should there be a discrepancy, consider using pre-boiled water. Make sure that water never exceeds 205F though or it can burn the coffee and make it taste terrible.
– Use good water
The quality of the water you use matters too! Don’t take it from the tap!
– Add frothed milk for a perfect touch
And finally, to really get that café taste in your at-home coffee, try frothing milk. There are many ways to do it, even in your microwave! Though some tools will make it even easier to get it just right.
With that perfect at-home coffee, you can let the coffeehouse come to you any day of the week!