If I ask you, what makes you happier? You might think of a cappuccino, latte, chocolate mocha, or iced coffee. From that, I can tell—you love coffee. But have you ever thought about making your favourite coffee right at home?

At first, it might seem like a lot to take in, but once you learn the basics, you can enjoy your daily cup of joe from the comfort of your home. What could be better than having a morning coffee with your loved ones?

So, we asked our barista at Coffee Protidin what you should know before you start home brewing. He said the two most important things are your love for coffee and patience. If you have both, you’re good to go. He also mentioned that you don’t need a fancy espresso machine to start. A simple coffee brewer and some good coffee beans will do the job.

If you’re willing to put in the effort, you can start brewing coffee at home today.

Which Brewing Method Is Ideal for a Beginner?

The first thing you’ll need on your bucket list is your brewing device. Since there are so many coffee brewers, you might worry about which one will suit you. Choosing the right brewer will be a game changer in your home brewing. However, according to our coffee expert, a French or a Moka pot will be great for a beginner who has recently started making coffee at home. These brewers will offer you a variety of delicious coffee right at home. 

1. French Press

The French Press makes a delicious cup of high-quality coffee. It is simple, convenient, budget-friendly, and easy to use. The French Press is a perfectly suitable way of brewing coffee. The French press method gives a flavor profile that others cannot—not better or worse, just different. The coffee for the French Press should be coarsely ground. You should never use finely ground coffee in French Press for several reasons. One of them is that the coffee will be muddy and taste bitter.

When done properly, the French Press produces an interesting flavor profile. It brings out more of the oils and other elements that would never come out with non-immersive methods. You can use your preferred coffee bean in this method. Some do well in this method, some don’t, depending on the roasting process, origin, and so on.

The French Press consists of three parts: the glass container, the plunger, and the mesh filter. This method requires no paper filter or fancy equipment, allowing you to brew a bold, strong coffee. If you love a full-bodied, strong cup of coffee, the French Press is a perfect brewing device.

2. The Mighty Moka Pot

Moka pot is a popular method of brewing coffee that enhances the flavor of the coffee. This incredible piece of brewing device produces different characteristics and flavourings. You can get something closer to espresso. It produces a rich, thick layer of coffee on top, which resembles espresso. The flavor of the coffee made in a moka pot will vary on a few factors, such as the coffee bean, type of roast, and how it was ground. 

This method uses a stovetop percolation method to extract the coffee. This device has three parts: the bottom chamber, the funnel, and the upper chamber, where you will get the coffee. This method uses pressurized water through the finely ground coffee to create a delicious, strong coffee. You can also find this device in various sizes according to your needs. 

3. Pour over 

So this is a method of brewing extraordinary coffee by pouring hot water over the grounds. Manual drip coffee is often referred to as pour-over. This method gained popularity in the world’s brewer cup. The benefit of a pour-over is that you control every element in the brewing process. Meanwhile, you push a button in machines and hope for the best. What happens when you pour hot water over the grounds? It absorbs all the aromatic compounds and flavors we enjoy and gives you a delicious cup of coffee.  What you should do is pour hot water over the grounds and allow it to sit for a minute, and then pour the remaining water, and you get all those beautiful flavors in a subtle but very approachable way. It’s a great place to start if you want to elevate your coffee game.

Must-Have Equipment for Home Brewing

A Quality Burr Grinder

 A  quality grinder is crucial for achieving the right consistency of your coffee grounds. There are usually two types of grinder you’ll find: A blade grinder and a burr grinder. Burr grinders are preferred over the blade grinder for their consistency and ability to produce a uniform grind size. If you want to elevate your coffee game, truly, you should invest in a good quality burr grinder. Whether manual hand cracked or electric, these are far superior when it comes to consistency to blade grinders.

Fresh Coffee Bean

The only commonality in all really good cups of coffee is starting with a quality coffee bean. You can start with green, unroasted coffee, roast it yourself, or buy and grind roasted coffee beans. In any case, fresh coffee will offer you a quality cup every time you brew. The better the product you are brewing, the better you can expect the result, regardless of your chosen preparation. Starting with pre-ground coffee will never give you the excellent cup you’re looking for. 

A  Gooseneck Kettle

Two things are vital for your coffee, without saying anything. One thing is water, and the other is coffee grounds; without these two, you can’t get a cup of coffee no matter what you do. Once you have ground coffee in your hands, you only need water; you can’t just use regular water to get a cup of coffee. You need a way to heat and pour your water. Since the equipment you choose will greatly affect the flavor of your coffee, whether you need a gooseneck kettle or not depends on you. 

I recommend a gooseneck kettle for better precision and ease of use. You will understand why you need a gooseneck kettle after using it. You can even get away with a regular kettle or even with a microwave-safe pouring cup, but you will see the difference once you use it. This kettle with a long narrow spout will give you ease of use, precision, and control over the brew. This brewing device controls the flow rate of water when it’s being poured over a bed of coffee. Also, this device is vital for you if you have a cup of pour-over or a French press. It gives you an edge and holds over your pouring technique, elevating the extraction and improving your cup quality.

Using Fresh, Filtered Water

Now, let’s talk about the second most important ingredient for home brewing: water. It makes up more than 90% of your end product, so you must ensure you use good filtered and soft water. You have to make sure you’re having good filtered water since this will make sure whether your coffee will taste great or not. If you have just started home brewing and your coffee is not tasting as good as it should, keep water hardness in mind. So, the hardness of water refers to the buildup of calcium, magnesium, and other chemicals in water, which can significantly alter the taste of your coffee. So, it is wise to use filtered water instead. Although the water filtration does not soften your water in every case, it will make your coffee taste as it should, and that’s what matters the most, right?

Tips for Improving Your  Home Brewing

You can make a wonderful cup of coffee using dozens of coffee brewing and preparation protocols. Flavor, mouthfeel, and the pleasure one gets from handling and preparing the coffee are highly subjective and personal experiences. As people say, your mileage may vary. 

Perfection, in this case, is highly subjective. While you might like black coffee, others might not. So, the perfect cup of coffee is something that you or someone makes that meets your personal standard of perfection.

• If you have just started home brewing, don’t go after perfection. The more you crave perfection, the more you will lose your ability to find and unlock different flavor profiles. 

• You need to experiment with various variables to find the cup of coffee you have wanted so badly these days. While you’re brewing, you should keep grind size in mind. Other variables are brew ratio, temperature control, and using fresh ingredients.

• The next best tip for someone into home brewing is to use freshly ground coffee since this variable unimaginably affects the taste of your coffee. Grinding whole beans yourself will give you more scope to improve your brew. 

And that’s it for today. The key is to play with variables at a time, and you will find the perfect cup of coffee you have been craving for so long.