A Cup a Day Keeps Unproductiveness Away: How to Make Perfect Coffee

A few sips of coffee in the morning can be a great way to kickstart your day. Apart from giving your taste buds a wonderful massage, a cup of Joe in the morning can help boost your concentration, mental energy, and alertness levels. It can also help uplift your mood and give a boost to your physical stamina, keeping you productive throughout the day. But just like with other beverages, we all have our own preferences when it comes to coffee. Some like it with milk, whereas some like it black and sugarless. Others prefer a cup of coffee with other ingredients, including chocolate, cream, and sugar.

Especially now in the COVID-stricken 2020, where most of us are working from home, it has become more important to know how to make your own coffee from home. After all, most coffee shops still remain closed. Making it from home is also more convenient and can help save you the much-needed buck in these uncertain times. Whether you need to do it from home or from your office, here are a few tips you need to make perfect coffee and stay productive throughout the day.

One of the most common mistakes coffee enthusiasts make is that they heavily rely on pre-ground coffee. For great-tasting and more flavorful brews, it is advisable to buy whole coffee beans fresh and grind them yourself. In this case, you'll need a coffee grinder, just in case your coffee making machine doesn't have one. If you don't have a grinder, don't worry! There are a few ways you can grind it without a coffee grinder and still produce an amazing cup of paradise. You can simply use the mortar and pestle in your kitchen to smash the fresh beans into powder form. Alternatively, you can put the beans in Ziploc bag and hammer and break them down using your meat tenderizer or hammer.

Remember, the flavor and concentration of your coffee will depend on how fine the ground coffee is. It might take a bit of experimenting before you can tell just how fine your grinds need to be for your definition of the perfect cup of coffee.

There are different types of coffee drinks, and this largely depends on the method of preparation as well as the ingredients used. So, here, you'll have to ask yourself how you love your coffee. Do you prefer it with milk or do you prefer it black? As for the preparation methods, common ways to make coffee include pour-over, French press, drip, Chemex, and cold brew, among others. The best choice will largely depend on your preferences and the equipment you have, which brings us to the next important pointer.

Apart from the grinder, there are various types of coffee making machines. As earlier noted, the best machine for you will depend on your coffee preferences. Common types of coffee makers include the espresso machine, aero press, French press, drip coffee maker, siphon coffee machine, percolators, and cold brew coffee machine. Depending on your coffee making method, other equipment and accessories you may need to become your own barista include:

For a stronger brew, it is best to pre-infuse your coffee grounds before you start brewing. Coffee preinfusion means pouring hot water over ground coffee so that it soaks to release any CO2 that might have been left after the roasting process. Let your grounds sit in hot water for about 45 secs before pressing the start button on your coffee maker. This is an important step in the coffee-making process, especially for espresso.

The flavor of the resulting cup of coffee will largely depend on the water quality and temperature. It's best to use water with low mineral levels when brewing. For the best results, ensure that the water you use is within the pH 7 range. You'll also want to note that at higher temperatures, more caffeine will be extracted from your beans or grounds, thus resulting in a stronger and more flavorful brew. To avoid a bitter taste, it's best to ensure your water is at least 205 degrees before pouring it over your coffee.

Finally, always ensure that your coffee making equipment is clean each time you use it. Also, be sure to store your coffee beans well in an airtight container. This prevents it from sucking moisture from the air (which can lower their quality and impact flavor). If you're brewing your coffee manually, it is also helpful to track the brewing time, so you can make the perfect cup of coffee each time. The tips are can be more than you need to become your home's own barista.