Sometimes a big cup of coffee is all you need to set the mood for the day, especially if you get Monday blues all week.
It won’t fix your life, but you’ll at least not zone out in all those meetings, which could have been an email. Also, in the process, you could end up saving more than a few dollars every month, which you’d otherwise spend on the local barista.
While it’s tempting to go down that path because that’s less of a hassle, how many times did you receive the wrong order? Even though you specified, extra strong and low-fat milk, like a hundred times…
Stop letting another human come between you and your tall, dark cup. And get it done at home by simply following these steps.
Of course before you do follow the steps, make sure that you have a good quality coffee machine at home – it really makes a BIG difference. If you are on the hunt for a new one, then check out our guide: The best home coffee machine Australia!
Without further ado, let’s make coffee great again!
How To Make Coffee
First things first, there are three conventional methods of making coffee at home. The long-standing favorite being the classic drip coffee, although the pour-over and the French press are also quite popular. We’ll explain all three methods so you can find what works best for you.
Before getting started, it’s essential to weigh your coffee grounds as that yields better results than measuring with spoons or scoops. In which case, a digital kitchen scale comes in handy, and we’ve provided the adequate measurements by weight for accuracy. Also, we’ve mentioned the measuring-spoon equivalents for users who don’t have a scale.
That being said, we recommend about 15 g (1 tablespoon) of coffee grounds per 8-ounce cup of coffee. For 4 cups, that’d be about 60 g (4 tablespoons) of coffee.
Pour Over
Arguably the best way to make a delicious and aromatic cup of coffee, the pour-over coffee method won’t disappoint.
Step 1:
First, bring water to a boil in the kettle.
Step 2:
If you have whole coffee beans, grind them to a uniform consistency similar to granulated salt.
Step 3:
Now put a filter in the brewer and rinse with warm water. This gets rid of the papery residue on the filter and warms up the brewer, thereby keeping the coffee hot for longer. Also, make sure to dispose of the water used for rinsing.
Step 4:
After this, simply add the grounds to the filter, while ensuring the surface is level. When the water temperature is between 195°F and 205°F (a minute after removing from the stove), slowly and continuously pour sufficient water over the grounds to saturate them. Start from the middle and work your way outwards.
Step 5:
Stop pouring right before the coffee starts to drip through. This technique is called the “bloom” pour, allowing the coffee to de-gas.
Step 6:
Gradually pour the remaining water and fill the dripper up to three-quarters. This should take around 3 to 4 minutes. Then carefully remove the filter, serve, and enjoy!
French Press
Caffeinate the European way and make your morning cuppa with a French press.
Step 1:
Begin with boiling water in the kettle.
Step 2:
If you’re using whole beans, grind them to a consistency like that of breadcrumbs (coarser than required for the pour-over method).
Ideally, the grounds should have uniformity in size, without a lot of fine dust. Thereafter, add the grounds to the French press.
Step 3:
When the water reaches somewhere around 195°F to 205°F (a minute after removing from the stove), pour it into the French press and stir it vigorously, mixing with the grounds.
Let it brew for about 4 minutes, then slowly and steadily plunge the press to separate the grounds from the coffee.
Step 4:
Pour it in a cup and enjoy.
Note: if you plan on drinking the coffee a little later, do not leave it in the French press, as it will continue to soak with the grounds and become bitter. Instead, store the coffee in a carafe and drink later.
Drip Machine
On days when you’re running out of time, nothing can sort things out better than a drip coffee machine. Depending on your unit, you can make up to 12 cups at a time.
Step 1:
Like in the pour-over way, if you’re using whole beans, grind them to a uniform consistency similar to table salt.
Put the grounds into a filter, then transfer it in the drip machine. Swivel the water outlet over the center of the grounds.
Step 2:
Now pour water into the back of the machine and turn it on.
Step 3:
Turn off the machine immediately after the coffee’s done brewing (it’ll stop bubbling) to avoid a burnt aftertaste.
Note: Make sure to clean the machine once a month by filtering in a solution of water and vinegar, which removes any residue build-up.
Tips For Brewing The Best Coffee
Before we sign off, here are some more tips we’d like to share.
1. Buy fresh beans as the coffee tastes best when used within days of being roasted. In that case, we suggest buying from a local roaster as that way, you’ll always have the best batch to brew.
2. Make sure that the water used does not have the taste of chlorine as nothing ruins a cup more than off-putting taste in the water. Moreover, do not use softened or distilled water, as a complex cup needs all the good minerals in the water.
3. Do not skimp on coffee filters. Bargain-priced coffee filters yield inferior results as they often let the sediment through.
4. Keep your apparatus and grinder clean at all times. You do not want to disrupt the flavor with leftovers or residue of any kind.
So many ways to make the perfect cup of coffee! If you ever get the feeling that you’re missing out on other great tasting drinks because of your obsession with coffee, we have a solution at hand. Have you ever tried Dirty Chai?
Imagine a warm drink that combines the taste sensation of Chai combined with your favourite coffee – you’ve just discovered a Dirty Chai! It’s easy to make at home too.
So, if you’re looking to mix up your coffee drinking a bit, but don’t want to give up your morning shot of espresso, check out these three easy ways to make a Dirty Chai.
That’s all from us, folks. And we hope our guide has taken you in the right direction – to make the perfect cup of coffee at home. And the best part is that you get to customize the ingredients and make it just the way you want for a satisfying sip.
So just brew your own energizing elixir and start the day with the much-needed caffeine boost. Till next time, keep spilling the beans!
Love adding new items to your home? You might enjoy checking out all our posts in our home section of our website.
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