No, I am not trying to sell you my coffee, just my experience. If you are a coffee consumer and don't prepare your own coffee, start doing it! Especially if you the type of person that relies on places like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.
There are plenty of small batch roasters (myself included) that you should be supporting instead that actually care about the quality of the product and the experience you have with your morning cup of coffee. Not only will you save money, you'll be a master of your own cup and you'll have fun learning! Here are three tips to master the art of making your own perfect cup of coffee.
Coffee Quality -
Don’t cheap out on your coffee selection. The couple dollars you save on a cheaper bag of coffee is not worth it, trust me, I roast and sell coffee! Plus, many of you already pay a high premium for places like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, why not put that towards better tasting coffee you can prepare in the comfort of your own home?
It will be a trial and error to determine which small batch roasters you prefer, but that is part of the fun. So be experimental until you find the one. Remember, there are so many factors that go into coffee such as location grown, how it was washed and dried, density, age, how it was roasted, if it is a blend or single origin, and so much more. Also, buy whole bean if possible. It will help ensure that the coffee remains fresh for longer.
Grinder -
This catches many avid coffee drinkers by surprise and is one of the biggest reasons that your cup of coffee at home doesn't taste like the one prepared for you at a fancy cafe. Trust me when I tell you that a burr grinder should be at the top of your purchasing list.
We already know that coffee stays fresh for longer when it is stored as whole bean, but the aromas that are released during the grinding process are actually where most of the flavor comes from. This is why you should always grind your coffee right before brewing.
A burr grinder does an excellent job of grinding beans into evenly portioned coffee grounds which helps create a perfectly extracted cup of coffee. Consistency is key here! For the best experience, we recommend a premium quality hand grinder since it will last a lot longer than an electric grinder and they have a higher return on investment.
Extraction -
There are many methods of coffee extraction, each has its own benefits. Some people prefer the full body taste of a french press, while others prefer the clean and less acidic taste of a pour over. Personally, I love both of these methods, but I typically use the pout over method with my own Chemex.
However, simply buying this is not the solution. You will need to learn how to properly execute the pour over method because there is a delicate art to coffee extraction. The amount of time, the temperature of the water and the quality of the water all matter. Master the art of proper coffee extraction and you’ll never go back to your old habits of drinking motor oil.
January 16, 2019 at 08:55AM
