Coffee is America's drink. Most people start their day with a steaming cup of Joe. Many are relegated to purchasing over priced drinks from local cafes because the perfect cup eludes them at home. Here we will outline the steps needed to brew your own at home.
Clean equipment is a must. Any residual coffee in the equipment will lead to a bitter cup. The oils will go rancid and the liquid will burn.
Get the freshest beans possible. Coffee is an agricultural product, so the fresher it is, the better it will taste. Purchase beans from a purveyor that does a lot of volume. You don't want the beans you buy to be sitting around in a store for a long time.
Only buy as many beans as you will use. It doesn't matter how good a sale is on a great bean, if it goes stale it is no longer a great bean. Sitting around the house is just as bad for a bean as sitting around a grocery store.
Use good, clean water. If your tap water is great as is, use that. If you wouldn't drink the water out of the tap use filtered water.
Fresh ground beans means better flavor. Always grind at home before brewing. A grinder at home is a small investment in fresh flavor.
Make sure that you are using the right size grind for the brew method of your choice. If a percolator is used, coarse grind is called for. Medium grind is what most people would use. This is appropriate for drip machines and French presses. Fine grind is mostly used in Europe in vacuum and Neapolitan flip methods. Extra fine grind is used in espresso machines.
The ratio of grounds to water is critical. To make a perfect six-ounce cup, two tablespoons of grounds should be used. More grounds does not increase the flavor and is just a waste of money. Less grounds causes the water to extract too much from the beans, resulting in a bitter brew.
Store beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Putting beans in the fridge will expose them to moisture, which will ruin flavor. If beans must be put in the freezer, use them within 2-3 months.
When brewing, use water just off the boil. The time it takes to walk the kettle to the grounds is enough time for the water to cool down. If you are using a machine, this step does not apply.
After brewing, but before serving, make sure to stir. This helps distribute the particles that have settled on the bottom. It also mixes the oils into the drink. This makes for consistently good cups throughout.
If any coffee remains, store it in a thermos or a preheated air pot. This keeps it hot and fresh and doesn't allow for scalding if left on a hot plate.
By following a few easy steps and making them routine, anyone can brew the perfect cup of coffee in the comfort of their own home. Now you just need to think about what to do with all the money saved from buying lattes everyday.