Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in America and worldwide. A cup of coffee can energize, relax or even satisfy your taste buds. The flavor and quality of coffee depend on where it was grown, when it was harvested and how it was roasted and ground.
One of the most important things to remember is that drinking lousy coffee isn’t nearly as bad as not drinking coffee at all. If you really cannot stand the stuff, try a better blend or buy a high-quality instant when you need a caffeine fix but do not have access to good beans and equipment.
In most cases, equipment will make a great cup of coffee even if the beans are mediocre. So, if you do enjoy a good cuppa, then learning how to make a great cup of coffee can have a very nice payoff. Let’s look at how you can make a great cup of coffee.
4 Essentials to Making a Great Barista Style Cup of Coffee
Good Coffee Starts With Quality Beans
To have a great cup of coffee, you need fresh, high-quality beans. Experiment with different brands and roasts to see which flavors appeal to you the most. Look for oily and shiny beans rather than matte, as this indicates higher quality. Once you have decided on a brand, buy what you will use in a week or two, so your beans stay fresh. If possible, order whole beans for espresso and grind them yourself at home just before brewing. Whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee, and using them in a grinder adds one more step between the roaster and your cup.
In addition to using fresh, high-quality beans like Lava Lei coffee, it is vital to ensure they are properly roasted. It is best to experiment with several roasts to find the flavor that suits your tastes. In general darker roasts result in a more bitter flavor, so lighter roasts are preferred. You can also switch between different brands for variety but avoid doing so if you have only used dark roasts from a specific brand.
Consider a Burr Grinder
The best way to grind coffee is by using a burr grinder from Current Crop.. These grinders don’t use blades, which cause heat. These coffee machines with blades are cheaper but coarse coffee grounds that burn beans during the brewing process. The downside of these grinders is that they are more expensive. Burr grinders can be used for espresso and drip coffee makers. Burr grinders come in conical steel burrs and flat ceramic plates.
Conical steel burrs are what professional baristas prefer because it delivers consistent results while grinding beans for several cups at once without slowing down the motor or clogging up quickly. On the other hand, flat ceramic plates provide very fine grounds, making them very suitable for grinding spices and making masala. However, the problem with this type of grinder is that it breaks down quickly and needs constant cleaning and oiling.
Brew Your Coffee Properly
Many people add ground beans to boiling water and expect fantastic results, but much more is involved in getting a good cup of joe. It is important to brew it properly to get the most enjoyment out of your cup of coffee. The following steps will help you make a great-tasting cup every time:
- Measure two tablespoons (10 ml) per 6 oz (175 ml) cup of coffee. Measure your coffee as you would any dry ingredient.
- Use fresh cold water instead of warm or hot water because it is better for extracting flavor from the beans. In general, grind and brew as soon as possible, so the essential oils inside the beans remain intact longer. However, if you do not have access to a brewer every time you want a coffee, be sure to store your beans in an airtight container and keep them away from excess light and heat. Also, keep them sealed until just before use, and avoid grinding more than you will need for a day or two at a time.
- Pour your freshly ground coffee into a stainless steel French press pot with a “plunger” or an Auto-drip cone with a water spout and heating element. Ensure you use the appropriate size filter (coarser if using a French press and finer for an Auto-drip machine).
- Use clean filtered water at around 175 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius) to brew your coffee. If you live at high altitudes, then sea level temperatures are best because the lower atmospheric pressure may lead to over-extraction of your coffee.
- Brewing should take about 4 minutes for drip machines or 6 minutes for French press pots. When this time has passed, remove your brewer from heat so as not to cook the blend. Always pour brewed coffee into ceramic cups instead of glass because the former is better suited for retaining heat.
- Add any desired ingredients such as milk, cream, sugar, or flavorings before serving, so they are blended throughout the cup. Stir only with a spoon made of either plastic or wood because metal utensils can damage the sensitive oil on the surface of your coffee and give it an off-flavor.
Brewing Time Matters Too
Making a perfect cup of coffee involves not only finding the best beans and grinds but also following all of these steps to brew your coffee just right. You can experiment with temperatures and times, as well as different types of brewers and beans, until you find the combination that gives you the best taste for your particular palate.
It is easy to produce a unique pot every time with careful attention to detail, so you don’t have to settle for mediocre blends anymore. With a little bit of patience and experimentation, you will soon be able to make a great-tasting cup every day without assistance from expensive cafes or restaurants.
As you can see, there is much more to making a great pot of coffee than throwing ground beans into boiling water. By following these five steps, one can learn how to consistently brew a great-tasting cup of coffee without ever purchasing pre-made blends of beans again. It’s not hard to make good coffee if you know what you’re doing, and with the right tools at your disposal, nothing is standing in your way from enjoying a great hot beverage every day.
