Do you love coffee but you find that the coffee you drink at home just doesn’t hit the spot? While the skill and experience baristas have does help them, it is possible to make great coffee at home as well. This way, you can have the barista experience whenever you want.

In fact, you might find that the coffee you make at home is even better, because you make it to your preferences. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Image credit: Nathan Dumlao

Grind Your Beans

No matter what, grinding beans at home will always give you better results than buying ground coffee. Much like spices, coffee beans lose flavor and go stale once they’ve been ground. 

Grinding beans yourself also gives you more control over the size of the grind. Different coffee making methods benefit from different grind sizes, so it’s worth finding a grinder that allows you to control it.

You should also buy coffee beans that you know you’ll enjoy. The smell tells you a lot about the taste and experience. 

Finally, some people roast the beans at home. This gives you even more control, but it does require specialist equipment. If you take the time to choose your beans carefully and grind them just before making coffee, you’ll get a great cup out of it.

Explore Coffee Making Methods

There are so many different ways to make coffee, and these methods all change the taste and experience. If you spend some time experimenting with these coffee making techniques, you might discover your favorite type of coffee.

Every method starts the same way. Grind the coffee beans to your desired specifications. This is where size matters. French press coffee, which is simple and gives you a punchy cup, is best with coarsely ground coffee. But filter or espresso coffee, which involve forcing hot water through a bed of coffee above a filter, benefit from finely ground coffee.

If you like iced coffee, an Americano (espresso with water) with ice is the most basic way to do it. But cold brew coffee creates a concentrate that isn’t hot to start with, so you can enjoy as cold a coffee as possible.

Coffee Making Equipment

Depending on your preferences, you may need to consider different types of coffee making equipment. French press, aeropress, and pour over coffees require relatively inexpensive and compact equipment, making them ideal for when you just fancy a cup of coffee without any fuss. 

But other machines can be more complicated or more expensive. If you like espresso coffee, an espresso machine is the obvious way to go. Some machines also have steam wands so you can froth milk.

Another espresso option is the moka pot, which is a stovetop percolator that forces steam through ground coffee, resulting in a classic and delicious espresso experience. With an espresso base, you can make a variety of drinks.

As well as the big equipment required to make the coffee itself, consider other tools that will help you keep your coffee equipment clean and tidy. For example, a grinder brush can help you reach the irritating places to clean. If you brush and wipe down your machine every time you use it, you don’t have to worry about taking too much time to clean it.

What to Have With Your Coffee

So, you’ve spent the time to make a delicious cup of coffee, either for yourself or with guests. Is that it?

Not necessarily. Coffee is a great excuse to sit down, relax for a moment, and enjoy a treat. It’s an experience as well as a convenient way to get caffeine into your bloodstream. So, what do you serve with your coffee?

Coffee is naturally bitter and acidic. This means that it pairs especially well with sweet snacks. Snacks aren’t evil. In fact, if you sit down with a treat now and then instead of mindlessly snacking, you will be able to develop healthier snacking habits.

In some cultures, a small slice of baklava goes incredibly well with the local coffee, which is strong and made with a very fine grind. The extreme sweetness cuts through the bitterness off the coffee, making for a refreshing experience.

More commonly in the western world, you might eat a small slice of cake or a cookie with your coffee. Again, some cakes go especially well with coffee, but the most important thing is to consider your personal preferences. If you love it, it’ll be just right.