It’s not always possible to rush to Starbucks or the local cafeteria every time you crave a hot cup of joe. Of course, they make fantastic coffee. But what if you don’t feel like going outside for just a cup of coffee! You will definitely try to make some yourself at home. So, how to make the perfect coffee?
Basically, you need to be very careful about choosing the proper roast and the right consistency of your coffee ground. Also, the temperature and quality of the water should be suitable. Besides, using fresh ingredients will always provide you with the best brew!
This is just a short instruction. You need to learn the entire process of making a good cup of coffee in detail to make a perfect cup which I share in this article. Also, I am going to share some of my personal tips and tricks to make your perfect cup of joe even better. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee: Follow These Steps
To be fair, the brain fog doesn’t clear up until you get that first sip from your coffee cup. But if the coffee you make tastes terrible, waking up may become the most challenging part of your day!
Many people think making good coffee requires many extra ingredients and posh machines. But this is not true. Actually, a cup of coffee is by far the easiest thing to make within five minutes!
Tools Necessary
So, let’s take a look at the bare minimum tools and ingredients that you will need-
- A friendly mug
- Water (In this regard, filtered water is better than tap water)
- Coffee beans
- Grinder
- Water heater or kettle
- Or, you can use pour-overs, French-press, Aero-Press, etc.
- Filters
- Measuring scale
- A spoon
- Milk and milk frother
- Sugar to taste
- Additional ingredients (e.g., cinnamon powder, honey, chocolate, whipped cream, cocoa powder, etc.)
The Brewing Process
There are several varieties of coffee. For example, you can make regular coffee, latte, cappuccino, drip coffee, filter coffee, etc. But whatever you make, the basic recipe for the best cup is just the same.
Here, I will give you a quick recipe for making the perfect cup of coffee. If you love black coffee, omit the milk. But if you are a milk coffee lover, you can follow this recipe.
Step 01: Choose A Good Quality Roast
To be fair, this is the central part of what makes or breaks your coffee. If you choose a poor-quality roast, your coffee will be bitter and acidic. You won’t even be able to taste it!
The best coffee beans come from South America. So, do a quick study of the source of your beans. Also, if you love an acrid taste, beans from Africa aren’t that bad!
Choose a medium roast. But if you like it dark, go for dark or extra-dark roasts too! You may buy the packaged ones or just buy some isolated beans.
Step 02: You Should Crush Your Own Beans!
A lot of us will just buy roasted or ground coffee to save time. But the more effort you put into it, the tastier it becomes! Most baristas will tell you this. If you buy whole coffee beans and then grind them yourself, you can brew a fresh, smelling, and excellent tasting cup!
In fact, a grinder is very cheap nowadays and is not hard to find. You can easily buy one from Amazon! Grinding your own beans will add fresh flavours to the cup, the one thing that makes coffee authentic!
There is a massive debate between Arabica and Robusta beans. Of course, tastes are relative facts. So, the Arabica that tastes amazing to you may be disturbing to a Robusta lover! It is better to use a blend of both.
Step 03: Use Freshly Ground Beans
Now, for making one cup of coffee, the general rule of thumb is to use 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls of coffee ground for every six ounces of water. It will provide you with the best and perfect taste. In this way, even excess milk or sugar won’t be able to blow out the smell of fresh ground.
Most importantly, when you buy the beans, always check the date. You must purchase the freshest beans on the market by comparing some brands. Then, take it home, store it properly, and use only the right amount you need.
Then, grind the coffee beans to a fine powder using a grinder. If the granules are too big, you may not like the brew. Try to produce a homogeneous and evenly fine mix. And it would help if you used it fresh right after grinding.
Step 04: Choose Mineral Free Water
If the water in your locality is more acidic or alkaline or contains a lot of minerals, the taste of your coffee can vary greatly. Most baristas don’t recommend using tap water or even distilled water. Even re-boiling heated water can taste nasty. Nevertheless, the best way is to use filtered water.
So, make sure you use good quality water as well. Water and coffee beans are the two crucial things that mainly make your coffee. If you want to be more specific, you can use litmus paper or a pH meter to check the acidity of your water.
If the litmus paper turns blue or red, you may have to look for other water sources. Understandably, the pH should be 7. Your water temperature should be at least 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 05: The Easy Brewing Method
Most people are accustomed to making coffee using water heaters, kettles, percolators, etc. In fact, these are the age-old traditional brewing techniques. Now, you have pour-overs, AeroPress, French Press, and whatnot!
The easy thing would be to use a French Press. But pour-overs are actually great. So, take a filter off your pour-over and place it in your cup. Put some ground coffee in the filter. Pour some hot water on top of the coffee grounds, just to make it wet and not all the way through to the cup.
Now, doing this will allow the fine coffee granules to absorb water molecules and spread evenly to the surface. It enhances the taste and flavor of the coffee. Then, after some time, pour water all the way down to the cup.
Step 06: Keep Your Utensils Clean
Now, whatever method you choose to make coffee, always make sure the pots and utensils are clean. Because coffee beans can hold oil, any residual coffee can make the container oily. So, if you make the next brew in this container, it will ruin the taste of your fresh coffee. It may even taste bitter!
You can use simple soap and water to clean them. Or, you can use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean the containers.
Step 07: Add Additional Ingredients
If you love whipped cream, put some on top of your coffee to create a fantastic cup. You can also add cinnamon spice, cocoa powder, honey, artificial sweeteners, etc.
Besides, if you love milk coffee with a bit of sugar, just add in the amount you need. The best taste comes from using some frothy milk. Use a milk frother to create a rich, foamy texture before using the milk. You can keep some foam aside to use on top later.
Or, even if you don’t have a frother, use a small whisk or a fork to beat the milk. At one point, it will become frothy. Some even love steamed milk in their coffee. It all depends on how you want it!
Some Tips You Would Like To Follow
You need to keep some points in mind while making coffee. Some of these may not be affecting the quality of your brew at present but may do so at a later period.
In fact, some clever tips and tricks can help you produce a brilliant cup! So, keep reading to know these tips!
- You must store your coffee beans in an air-tight container. If you bought a packet of beans, try keeping it in a ceramic container.
- The temperature range is critical. If you use water at temperatures below 180 degrees, the coffee beans won’t bloom properly, and you won’t get that authentic taste. Also, if you use too hot water above 205 degrees, you will burn your mouth and also get the taste of burnt coffee!
- If you don’t like coffee high in caffeine, avoid Robusta beans.
- If you do not use the grounds instantly after grinding, the air may cause the grounds to oxidize. Eventually, it ruins the taste and flavor.
- Grounds can stay fresh for five weeks if you store them properly. So, put the jar away from sunlight or even hot areas in your kitchen.
Conclusion
For all the coffee lovers out there, the secret to how to make perfect coffee is still a myth. Some people are so addicted to the cafeteria coffee that they hardly like their own home-brewed coffee. However, making a cup of coffee is the easiest thing you can do every day! Just a few simple tips and tricks can get you the perfect mug.
I hope this article helped you to know about the perfect coffee recipe. Thank you for reading the entire piece with patience. Have a nice day!
