Coffee is much more than just a beverage for most of us. This drink offers a balanced flavor with the right amount of acidity. In the morning, you can enjoy the subtle flavors of delicate coffees to wake you up, or in the afternoon, a stronger brew to keep you going through the day. However, it’s not always possible to visit a fancy café for a much-needed caffeine kick. The good news? You can make it yourself at home.
You don’t necessarily have to be an expert for this. Once you master the right brewing technique, you can create all the delicious drinks you love. To get it right, adjust key variables—grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and the quality of your grinder. A perfect balance of these elements will help you achieve a rich, high-quality cup of coffee.
And trust me, if anything goes wrong, we’re here to help. Here are a few tips to improve your daily brew.
Fresh coffee is the kye
The first and probably the most important thing to make sure for the perfect espresso is your coffee beans’ freshness. To get the most out of your beans, make sure you are buying beans that are 5-10 days off roast. Espresso is best when beans are between 7-21 off roast. Or else the espresso will not contain the creamy looking top layer known as crema and you will end up making really strong black coffee. Another thing to keep in mind is to buy whole beans over ground beans as grinding accelerates oxidation. Look for begs with a one-way valve that allows CO2 to escape but keeps the oxygen out and it’s a good practice to avoid “best before” days as it doesn’t indicate actual roasting date. Avoid buying in bulk and only buy what you will consume in 1-2 weeks to ensure you are always getting the best aroma and freshness.
Importance of a good grinder
Having a well functional grinder is as important as having fresh beans. You already know that ground coffee gradually advance oxidation of coffee. So buying a beg of pre-ground coffee is as same as buying stale coffee. Buying hole bean and grinding at home preserve the coffee’s freshness and taste. Another big reason for buying a grinder is different brewing method demand specific grind size. With a burr grinder, you can grind any size require for your brew. A high-quality grinder unlock the full range of flavor in your coffee bean by grinding them precisely.
Roast type
Understand the roast type off coffee bean is crucial for ever home barista as it directly impact the flavor, aroma, brewing process and overall coffee experience. There are mainly three types of roast – light , medium and dark. Light roast contain the original flavor, it contains fruity, floral or acidic note, perfect for slower extracting methods for example pour over or AeroPress. This roast contains more caffeine than any other roast. Medium roast on the other hand, balances acidity, wetness and body. Often showcasing nutty, chocolatey or caramel like flavors. Prefect for drip coffee, espresso and French press. Dark roast highlights itself with smoky bold and better notes and goes very well with espresso or Moka pot contain less caffeine than rest.
Scale
A scale is often unseen when we talk about essential equipment of coffee. Unlike a scope or eyeballing, a scale ensure that you measure the exact amount of coffee and water needed for the coffee to water ratio. It is crucial when you are pulling a espresso shot as every shot need to fix it’s ratio over ground bean.
Filtered water
You discover a cozy little cafe and instantly captured by their coffee. So, you buy a bag of their bean and wanted to recreate the same taste and aroma. But to your disappointment, the coffee doesn’t taste nearly as good as it did in the café. What went wrong? The answer is probably the poor water quality.
Think about what coffee is? It’s coffee and water. The tap water in our homes contains a mix of minerals, chemicals and gases – the amounts may vary depending on the location and water source. As a result, brewing the same coffee with different types of water can produce noticeable difference in flavored each time. To ensure that you are getting the same flavors you expected use filtered water or bottle water every time you brew.