by: Sara Chambers
Raise your hand if you lost your favorite coffee shop during the nationwide stay home orders? Even if it was just temporary, those realities forced a lot of people to seek at-home options for a lot of daily desires: entertainment, meals, and, yes, our sacred, beloved coffee.
So if you started to get the hang of home brewing during the shutdowns and enjoyed the savings and experimentation, here are some suggestions for leveling up your barista skills.
BOLSTER YOUR BEANS
We all start out with a big brand K-cup or a tin of grounds our parents grew up on. But if you want to uplevel your brew, you have to start with the bean.
According to Bon Appetit, there are a few things to consider when buying the best beans:
- Make sure you know where the beans were grown and roasted. If the package isn’t saying… that might be a problem.
- Grind fresh. When you buy whole beans, it’s important to grind just before you brew.
- Look for the roast date! Great coffee will include a roasted date and you want to drink it as close to possible from when it was roasted Together Coffee is roasted to order… in case you were wondering. So it’s always fresh.)
- Finally, don’t freeze your beans. It messes with the oils and fibers that make your coffee delicious.
Now that you have your bean blunders sorted out, let’s talk about brewing.
DRIP VS. PRESS AND BEYOND
So for most, there are two typical ways to brew coffee at home:
- A drip coffee machine
- A french press
Both are fine methods, but in truth, there are a lot of fancy little ways to whip up a cup of Joe.
In an article on The Kitchn, five different methods were evaluated. From drip (which was her least favorite, but is typically the easiest, most-automated system) to the pour-over method (which was more labor-intensive, but got a 9/10). Ultimately, she chose the Aeropress as her optimum technique. Here at Sseko we have a preference for pour-over but honestly, as long as the beans are fresh and quality, you can’t go wrong!
MAGICAL MIX-INS
If you are someone who drinks your coffee straight up, no sweetener no cream, we salute you! We also understand that no matter how good the beans are, some people just love a little sweetener sweet treat or adore the silkiness of milk. If you’re looking for ways to compliment your coffee instead of cover it up, we recommend these additions:
- Spices: Cinnamon can be a delightful dash during the fall. Cardamom will not only give your coffee an exotic kick, but it’s also loaded with fiber. And if you’re a real risk-taker, cayenne can take your brew from hot to sizzling.
- Dairy-free milk: If you like the cream, but don’t love all that comes with dairy products, use a substitute. From almond milk to coconut, not only can you keep it healthy, but you can get a ton of flavor depending on what you choose.
- Grass-fed butter: Max out your omega-3s, clear brain fog and get real sultry with your morning brew by blending in a high-quality butter.
And guess what? We also won’t judge you if you throw in a splash of flavored creamer or even whipped cream You do you!
If you’re still looking for more help on how to brew the perfect cup, make sure you check out the brew guides for our Together Coffee. You’ll be on your way to crafting a perfect cup while bolstering the Ugandan and Ethiopian coffee farms that produce these beautiful beans.