In short, the techniques that coffee experts have mastered to create the perfect cup of joe depend on the techniques that play an important role in creating the delicious flavor of a cup of coffee. Good news? There are a few simple ways to up your latte game at home so you won’t always have to leave your home for a cup of soul-soothing coffee.
3 reasons why coffee always seems to taste better at the coffee shop
1. Baristas have a lot of knowledge about making coffee
“Besides the knowledge, skills and experience that professional baristas have, the coffee shops themselves,” says Genevieve Kappler, roasting master and brewer at Roasting Plant Coffee. The coffee shop is also equipped with professional equipment. , this is a very important part of creating a top quality cup of coffee. (For example, the ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is 195°F to 205°F. Very few drip coffee makers you’ll find for home use can reach that temperature range.)
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“And for those looking for specialty drinks, coffee shops also tend to offer a wider range of syrups, flavors and milkshakes than the average coffee consumer,” adds Kappler. can be at home.
2. They use super fresh coffee beans
Fact: top quality coffee shops use extremely fresh (and freshly ground) coffee beans. “If you’re looking for a great cup of coffee, the best coffee will come from a cafe that focuses on fresh, high-quality beans,” says Kappler.
3. They roast the beans in-house
So what exactly makes coffee beans qualify as super new? Well, it mostly depends on how recently they were roasted. “The general rule is that 7 to 21 days after roasting is best; however, there is no fixed expiration date. Just know that beans lose flavor over time,” Makenzie Bryson Jackson, MS, a food scientist, previously told Well+Good. One way to get the freshest beans is to source homemade beans.
“Ideally, the beans are store-roasted, so prioritize specialty stores that have this capability,” says Kappler. “However, that is very rare and many stores cannot provide that. So for those who can’t, try asking when their beans were roasted. Research shows that roasted coffee is inherently volatile and can lose 70% of its flavor and aroma in a week or two. Then, exposure to oxygen causes the natural oil to go rancid and bitter. If a store doesn’t know when their coffee was roasted, chances are it’s old,” she says. (Hint: This one But also That means the coffee you’ve been storing in your cupboard for months is past its expiration date and could be why your morning latte tastes awfully bitter.)
How to enhance your latte game at home
So how can you elevate your latte and pour-over at home? Making sure your beans are fresh is the first step. “To make coffee shop-quality at home, start with the basics: Get really fresh and delicious beans. You can get your beans from a local specialty roaster or even order them online,” says Kappler. Some coffee companies, such as Roasting Plant Coffee, roast to order to ensure your beans are roasted as fresh as possible.
Kappler also suggests investing in a good blender. “Consider buying a good baviar like the Baratza or the TIMEMORE hand grinder. Having a good blender allows you to grind right before brewing, making sure the beans stay in their freshest, whole-grain state for as long as possible before brewing,” says Kappler.
What’s more, Kappler adds that you shouldn’t store more coffee than you can consume within a week or two. “Another common mistake home coffee drinkers make is storing coffee too long at home. The roaster suggests following the 7 to 10 day rule for optimal freshness and, therefore, better taste. People often don’t think of coffee beans as a food that can go bad, but coffee drinkers should learn to treat their beans like fresh fruit and vegetables or baked goods — they’re perishable and tastier. a lot when fresh,” she said. speak.
Rise and shine. It’s time for coffee:
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