Most people love to start their day with a refreshing and revitalizing cup of coffee. But, with coffee shops charging a premium for even the most basic of drinks, it’s a wonder that anyone can actually afford to drink at these places. It’s even more confusing that people go into these shops at all when there’s nothing stopping you from making luxury coffee at home. You just need a few bits of kit, which will cost far less than a year’s worth of coffee shop coffee, and you can get started. To help you out, this post will go through all of the bits you need, to start making coffee.
- A Grinder
Of course, all great coffee starts with the primary ingredient; the beans. But, the pre-ground dust that you find in supermarkets will usually leave a lot to be desired. This is because these products are usually freeze-dried, taking out a lot of the flavor that the beans naturally have. Instead of buying pre-ground beans, you can buy whole ones. Then, all you have to do is grind it up. Coffee grinders are usually attractive enough to fit in any kitchen, and can even add some personality to the room. They’re easy to use, and most will do the whole job for you. Buying whole beans is no more expensive that buying pre-ground beans. In fact, in some cases, it can be cheaper.
- Something To Brew
Next, you need to be able to brew those tasty beans! The most common option for this is a french press, or, cafetiere. They’re usually a small jug with a plunger attached to the lid. You fill the jug with coffee and hot water, and then put the lid back on. Now, you leave the coffee to do it’s thing. Once the coffee is brewed, you can push down the plunger. This separates the coffee grind from the liquid coffee so that you don’t swallow it. Some people will also go for a full-blown espresso machine. These are generally quite expensive, though. And, the similar results can be found in a regular french press.
- The Milk
Any Barista will tell you that the milk is the most important element to most cups of coffee. Unfortunately, without an espresso machine, it’s hard to foam the milk up with steam. For some drinks, this is essential. But, for others, you can replicate the effect quite easily. By heating up milk, you change it’s consistency and flavor. You can heat milk in a pan on your hob. Don’t let the milk boil, instead, let it get to the point just before it boils. Then, slowly pour the warm milk into your coffee. Of course, this means that you won’t get any foam. But, the coffee that your drinking will be much closer to coffee shop quality than anything else you can make at home.
If you do this everyday, your home will start to take on the smell of coffee. For most people, this isn’t a problem at all. In fact, the smell is beautiful once you get used to it. Hopefully, this will help you to avoid some of the coffee shop runs you make each week if not all of them. Good luck and enjoy the coffee!