5 Tips For Perfect Coffee At Home
In the wake of the news last week that the UK would be heading into Lockdown 3.0, it’s easy to feel disheartened and de-motivated.
However, with news of the vaccine being rolled out across the UK at an impressive rate, the light is at the end of the tunnel; cafes will re-open, friends will meet again and normality shall resume.
As we see ourselves down the wintery home straight that is a January Lockdown, our home brewing can take centre-stage for a few more weeks – so, here are 5 things to do to make the perfect coffee from the comfort of your own home.
1. Beans: Use them or lose them
Don’t sabotage your brew with stale coffee before you’ve even started your home-brew; as our Barista Trainer Aashifa continuously tells us, the beans must be fresh. For those of us lucky enough to have a hand grinder, or even an electric grinder (very posh) at home, whole roasted beans can be ground on a use-by-use basis, and the remaining whole beans will be good for about a month after purchase.
Ground coffee, however, is a little less robust and should be treated like any other grocery item – a good rule of thumb is to only buy what you can consume in a week. Beyond this you’ll have to chuck it, and nobody likes waste.
TOP TIP – Coffee can be frozen and stored for 3 – 6 months, so if you do find yourself with an excess, seal it up in any airtight bag or container and chuck it in the freezer.
2. Follow a recipe
If you really want to make your brew like a pro you’ve got to get your ratio of water to coffee bang on, a lot of roasters will provide a recipe for their coffees which act as a good starting point. The Water : Coffee ratio is important, but also pay attention to grind size, brew time and brew method to get the best results possible. What works for a French Press won’t be the same for your espresso machine.
Brewing is all about extracting the delicious flavours out of your coffee beans, so if you want a perfect brew time after time, get the recipe right! It can be different for each coffee, but below is a good place to start:
French Press Recipe
- 50g Coffee
- 800ml Water at 95 Degrees Celsius
- 4 Minute Brew Time
TOP TIP – If you don’t have scales for weighing your coffee, don’t worry – a good rule of thumb is 1 – 2 tablespoons of coffee per 175ml of water for filter and French Press.
3. Don’t be afraid to experiment
Yes, we have just preached the importance of consistency… But that’s not to say there is no room to be creative. With all this free time afforded to us by the new lockdown, there is no excuse not to try something a little different. When you start to feel comfortable, adjust your ratios slightly, play around with the brew time or add your own new funky twist – you might just discover something great.
TOP TIP – Put a blob of marmalade in your decanter when making filter coffee, it will jazz up your delicious brew
4. Forget the fancy equipment
Whilst we all love our ceramic V60’s, electric grinders and temperature control-kettles, you don’t need to break the bank to make the perfect brew. Get yourself some good-quality, fresh coffee, follow the recipe, get the ratios right and then just use some good old-fashioned boiling water.
Whatever coffee equipment you have to hand, you can always make an enjoyable brew – just stick to the basics and you’ll be fine.
TOP TIP – You can make a brew into just about anything with just some filter papers.
5. Try something new
With the seemingly endless combinations out there, if you’re a coffee lover, you’re never going to be bored. Home-brew experiments aside, the range of brewing methods and Specialty Coffees on offer mean we’re all spoilt for choice.
If you would like to branch out here are some of our favourite roasters at the moment:
Keep supporting your local coffee shop
Home-brewing is great fun, but there is always time for a take-away – even in lockdown. Things that were once part of our mundane commutes or every-day routines are now the luxurious highlights of our day. Get out, have a walk, enjoy the winter days and support your local coffee shop – they need you at the moment, and we need them as much as ever.
Try a virtual coffee course
Craving something a little extra? Missing your work team-bonding days? We have just the thing – Cofftail Courses. They’re fully virtual and perfect for groups of 6 – 10. Have fun with your colleagues, shake up delicious coffee mocktails (or add a cheeky shot) and learn some recipes that are sure to impress. Drop us an email to enquire about pricing and availability.