After reading this post, brewing an impressive cup of exquisite coffee will be a breeze.
You’re going to get 10 super simple tips for easy high-quality coffee making. Anyone can use these secret hacks and incorporate them into their routine. Did you know the colour of your mug can massivelyaffect the taste of your coffee? Or which brewing method has the least mess and requires hardly any cleaning? Keep reading to find out these valuable tips and many more simple recommendations…1. Look for coffee that has been freshly roasted
Yes, we’re starting right at the beginning. Here’s some advice for before you’ve even purchased your coffee.
Two words…
Freshly roasted.
You may hear it in passing when navigating through the hustle and bustle of the competitive coffee world, but what does it actually mean? Why should you pay attention to these magical words?
Some companies have different definitions of freshly roasted, but anything that has been sat on a shelf for weeks isn’t really fresh, is it?
Hand roasting in small batches and shipping as soon as the beans have cooled is as fresh as you can get. Looking for independent businesses that hand roast fresh batches frequently is a super easyway to make sure you’re getting the very best flavour, simple!
2. Buy an easy to clean coffee maker – why you should invest in an Aeropress
Want… coffee. But don’t want to… brew.
There’s a little lazy person in all of us, and as humans we are constantly looking for shortcuts and the easiest way to complete a task.
What if I told you fresh coffee could appear in your cup with just a simple press? (Well, maybe there are a couple more steps like scooping in the grounds, but it’s still incredibly easy).
I’m talking about the Aeropress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=YVROVXFTRyg
It brews a balanced, delicious, clean tasting cup and is easy to use AND requires minimal clean up, hurrah!
Simply put in place the paper filter, add a scoop of grounds, pour in the water, wait and press. When you’re done, bin the paper filter and stick in the dishwasher (or hand wash, whichever is easier!).
3. Let an electric grinder do all the work for you
If only we could complete all of life’s cruel and mundane tasks with the touch of a button.
At least we can use a machine to grind our coffee.
Hand grinders? A sweaty brow and an aching arm? Maybe that’s a slight exaggeration but we say NO to manual labour. In this guide I am giving you the easiest ways to brew coffee, so bring in the machines.
Pour in the beans, set the grind size and let your mechanical friend do the rest.
You could argue that grinding beans is a little extra effort, but it is so worth itfor the undeniable fresh flavour.
4. Use a scoop to easily brew consistent, delicious results
A tablespoon and three quarters? Two heaped teaspoons? Just pour and guess?
No. Guesswork and remembering how much coffee to use every time is adding far too much complexity to your routine.
Buying a designated coffee scoop makes brewing so much simpler, as it is the perfect amount for one cup.
Make it even easier by investing in one that has a clip on the other end, so it can live permanently attached to the bag. Could it get any more effortless?
5. Choose the right mug to easily get a better flavour
Now we’re really getting back to basics. Sorting yourself with the right mug is another super simple way to make an exquisite brew.
Did you know the material and colour of your mug can massively affect the flavour of your cup? Let me break this down.
Firstly, the most surprising factor, colour.
This studyshowed that those who drank from a white mug perceived the cup to be more intense and less sweet than those who drank from a blue or clear mug.
Researches suggested that this was perhaps down to the contrast in colour of dark coffee and white. So, if you like a strong flavour, opt for a white mug. If you prefer a subtler taste, get yourself a darker coloured mug.
Secondly, the material.
Plastic or other porous materials such as unglazed clay can absorb flavour and alter the taste of your brew. When choosing a mug, look for ceramic or porcelain to easily get the best flavour from your beans.
6. Allow the water to cool before pouring over your coffee
Perhaps one of the easiest tips, just stand there and wait. Boil the kettle with fresh water (nobody wants old gross kettle water) and put it on to boil. Once it’s boiled, wait a couple of minutes.
This allows it to cool to the perfect temperature for coffee brewing. Pouring boiling water onto your fresh grounds may burn them and most likely give a bitter taste.
Don’t worry, many of us have made this error in the past. But, now is the time to learn from your mistakes.
Seriously up your coffee game by incorporating this simple step into your routine.
7. Use a timer as an easy way to perfect your brewing
With a basic timer costing no more than a couple of pounds and only requiring a push of a button to use one, this is an effortless way to brew better coffee.
Brew time plays a hugerole in the result of your cup. It can greatly alter the final taste.
Steep for too long and you’re faced with unwanted acidity and bitterness. Steep for too little and you’ll be missing out on a lot of flavour.
Brew time varies mainly depends on the brewing device, water temperature, grind size and coffee origin. To find your perfect brew time, it’s going to require a bit of experimentation.
But, when you do have that eureka moment and find the perfect length, use a timer to re-create this every time.
Why?
To easily get consistent, delicious and impeccable results, of course!
8. Get your storage set up in order
Brewing is the exciting bit and not many spare a though for the storage of your new shiny coffee beans. How are you going to care and nurture them?
Questioning the freshness of your beans and trying to figure out if they’ve gone stale is a burden you just don’t need in your brewing routine.
But, this is something you will face sooner than later if you don’t store them correctly. All you need is an opaque air tight container, which hopefully you might already have somewhere in your kitchen. Cookie jars, pasta jars or any other kind of pot will do.
Also, make sure they are kept in a cool and dark environment.
Fresher beans for longer = less wastage and re-purchasing… simple!
9. Easily create lattes at home without an espresso machine
Surely this masterpiece can’t be easily re-created at home?
Well, no it probably can’t, if I’m being honest with you.
BUT, you can easily make a delicious, milky, frothy coffee in the comfort of your own home.
‘Surely you need a milk steamer for that?’ I hear you say… well, no! I’m only giving you the easiest ways to brew delicious coffee at home, and I’m aware most people don’t have a professional espresso machine in their kitchen.
To foam milk at home you will need:
- A French press or a jar that has a secure lid
- A microwave
If you’re using the French press method, simply pour the milk in and continuously plunge until it becomes frothy. Put in the microwave on a low heat for 30 seconds to stabilise the foam.
If you don’t have a French press, then pour the milk in a jar, put the lid on and vigorously shake. Then put it in the microwave on a low heat for 30 seconds, as I previously mentioned.
Pour over your coffee and enjoy the indulgent foaminess.
10. Make easy cold brew coffee for a refreshing change
During the sweaty Summer months, you may make more trips to your local coffee shop to enjoy a refreshing cold brew.
It’s a delicious way to enjoy your caffeine fix when you can’t face another hot cup of joe.
But, do you really need to traipse to a cafe every time you want this cool concoction? Not anymore, I’m about to make things real simple.
Add one scoop of grounds into the French press, top with room temperature water, place the lid on and leave in the fridge overnight.
Wake up, plunge the French press and pour out your heavenly cold brew coffee.
Goodbye barista, your services are redundant!
Go forth, make your brewing simple and conquer…
I hope that I’ve proved to you how brewing a delicious cup of coffee can be quite simple.
Life’s too short for bad coffee, and wasting unnecessary time making it.
Have I missed any enlightening tips that you swear by? I’d love to hear them, so don’t forget to comment your best coffee tips.
CB would like to thank Isabel of Adams + Russell for all her expert advice!
