I will admit it, I used to work for Starbucks. Thankfully, as a lover of coffee and tea, my education on those subjects has paid off. Not only was I a “Coffee Master” and “Tea Master” I learned exactly what it takes to get the perfect cup of coffee no matter where you are.
I can now brew a mean cup of coffee at home that people usually mistake for fancy coffee house coffee. Want to know how to do that too? I can tell you that it can save you a grip of cash if you just practice a little! In no time you will feel like you have a whole new understanding of coffee.
Start with the Coffee
- If you want a good cup of coffee, then you need to start with good coffee. It is best to buy whole bean coffee and grind it yourself, but if you have too buy ground coffee that is stored in bags rather than cans.
- Air can be a huge killer of great coffee so having coffee in a bag with a one way valve is a great way to keep it fresh longer.
- You don’t have to buy expensive coffee just coffee that is packaged and stored correctly.
Store Coffee Properly
- Never store coffee in the fridge, freezer or over the stove. Coffee can be damaged with constant heat or cold. Don’t underestimate how hot or cold will change the flavor of the coffee.
- Coffee may start to absorb the flavors around it and start to get a stale smell. Store it a great air tight container or keep it in the bag in a cool, dry place.
Brew with Good Water and Clean Tools
- Bottle water works best for brewing coffee. Water at places like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean are often double and triple filtered. If you don’t drink a glass of water out of the tap, don’t make your coffee with it either.
- Clean out your brewing machine. Follow the directions for your machine and clean regularly. If you use a flavored coffee and then try another coffee a few weeks later clean the machine in between. Coffee has oils that may cause your new coffee to become contaminated with your old coffees flavors.
Learn how to make blended drinks and lattes
- Making coffee drinks is a lot simpler than you think. A small investment of a “Milk Frother” can allow you to aeroate or froth your milk once you warm it. It takes 2-3 minutes to froth about 1 cup of milk.
- Experiment with syrups and additions by buying bottles of the same syrups the coffee houses use. These are inexpensive and last for a very long time.
- Check out this link on how to make Starbucks Drinks at home!
Making Great coffee at home is easy and quick. It will save you tons of money and if you serve your cup in a reusable travel mug, you can save even more!
By Richel, Free Stuff Finder Contributor