What works for some people won’t work for you. Or who knows, maybe it will? That’s why it’s important for you to try as many different systems and methods as you can, incorporating what feels right and getting rid of what doesn’t, in order to create a morning routine that best suits your needs.
The same goes for your at-home coffee routine, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t officially start your day until you’ve had your first cup. By experimenting with different beans, brewers and grinders, you’ll be able to hone and develop the best at-home coffee routine for you – implementing it tomorrow, then perfecting it each and every day until it’s just right.
It’s all about the beans
“You can refine your brewing methods and techniques all you want, but at the end of the day, the coffee beans you use are going to have the biggest effect on flavor,” according to “How to Buy The Best Coffee Beans” by Roasty Coffee. “If you’re not buying the best coffee beans possible, you’re cheating yourself out of truly delicious, high-quality coffee.”
Roasty Coffee says that the two types of beans you should focus on are Arabica (a fruity, sweeter taste, as well as higher acidity) and Robusta (less flavor and chemical complexity). They stress that you should always buy whole beans, not pre-ground coffee, saying that the little time you save using pre-ground coffee isn’t worth what you’re missing out on flavorwise.
“Everything You Need to Know to Buy the Best Coffee Beans” advises coffee bean buyers to beware: “If your coffee doesn’t say where it was grown and roasted, it’s probably not that great.” The other vital piece of information that this article offers is that the roast date is the most important piece of information on a bag of coffee. You want beans that were roasted no longer than two weeks ago, since they’ll start to lose their flavor once they pass that stage.
Roasty Coffee also recommends researching major fair trade labels to figure out which organization or certification best matches your values. “Once you know which organizations you trust, it’ll make it easier to find the fair trade coffee that’s right for you.”
Brewing methods
The French press, the Aeropress and the pour over method are “3 easy, affordable, utterly low-tech methods for brewing a barista-worthy cup,” according to “These Are Our Favorite Ways to Make Coffee at Home”.
The French Press: The French press is one of the most classic and easiest ways to make coffee, according to “Here’s How to Make Coffee at Home Using 7 Different Brewing Methods”.. It’s brewed by soaking ground coffee directly in hot water (also known as an “immersion” method), then pressing a plunger down to make sure the grounds from the coffee don’t mix.
The Aeropress: “Not quite as commonplace as a French press, the Aeropress is a favorite of coffee nerds on the go,” according to this article. “This compact brewing device acts in the same way that a syringe does, with a plunger forcing hot water and grounds through a tiny replaceable filter and straight into your cup.” It’s a small and light unit so people can bring it with them on-the-go.
The Pour Over Method: “The pour over method involves pouring hot water through coffee grounds in a filter,” according to Perfect Daily Grind. “The water drains through the coffee and filters into a carafe or mug. It’s a low-tech, high-return process that requires just a bit of finesse.
Upgrade your grinder
“Your brewer may be the lead singer, but it’s really your grinder that’s writing all the songs,” according to “How to Upgrade Your At-Home Coffee Situation”. “If you’re looking to bring your home coffee bar that much closer to that of your beloved café, there’s no more important piece of equipment to upgrade than the grinder.”