How to Make Gourmet Coffee like a Barista
Making a cup of coffee is probably one of the easiest parts of our daily routine. But when it comes to brewing of a perfect cup of coffee, it requires something more than blending coffee, sugar and milk. Here are few tips to help you brew coffee as perfectly as a barista.
Nothing can parallel the luxury of a fine wine before the dinner and freshly brewed hot coffee after it. So far as coffee is concerned, you can drink it all though the day whenever you want an instant boost for your brain and spirit.
But a mediocre coffee doesn’t at all serve the purpose; for the ultimate indulgence in the lavish aroma of coffee, you should take the taste of the barista’s gourmet coffee.
Can you make gourmet coffee at home?
It is commonly believed that making gourmet coffee at home is nearly impossible. This is just a myth; you can prepare gourmet coffee right at your home simply by emphasizing on the finer details of coffee making.
Take cues from a barista at work
Next time you hit your favorite coffee chain, hang around near the counter just to watch the barista at work. You will be amazed to find how effortlessly he sails through the steps like measuring, tamping, pulling and so on.
The lesson here is: the barista does know his job to the perfection and practice makes perfect. So be prepared to go through little trial and errors and spoil a good many cups of coffee before you start making justice to your high quality coffee grinds.
The basic ingredients of barista style coffee
Hanging around in the coffee shops will open up your eyes to the factors like quality of the coffee beans and their storage.
You can not make gourmet coffee with inexpensive coffee blends. To make gourmet coffee, you have to use freshly ground beans to bring out the exquisite aroma of a high quality Arabica.
It also leads us to conclude that for making gourmet coffee you should consider investing in a good quality coffee grinder and preferably a roaster too.
Make sure to use soon after opening: use the rest of the pack within 3 weeks of opening to ensure the full flavor and aroma.
Also store the remaining coffee in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Machine for the perfect brew
After securing the ingredients, now you have to look for the machine that will help you to brew your coffee. Now, most of the coffee houses have their customized, expensive set of coffee machines. You are lucky if you own an espresso maker. But even in the absence of an expensive gadget, you can make gourmet coffee and for that you would simply need a basic drip coffee maker. So far as the simplicity of the process and quality of the drink is concerned, a good Cafetiere too can give you the complete value for money.
You have to use the right grind of coffee for the type of your coffee maker. If you have the cafetieres, use medium ground coffees. For filters and espresso machines, use finely ground coffee.
Strike the right balance between water and coffee
The water is a serious issue so far as making gourmet coffee is concerned.
If you are not ready to settle on something less than a perfect cuppa, then do as the coffee connoisseurs do; they make their coffee with spring water to avoid any kind of scent that the water carries.
It is also important is strike the right proportion of water and coffee; the standard proportion dictates four tablespoon of ground coffee for a five cups capacity coffee maker. You can make changes in the ratio according to your desired strength of the brew.
Last but not least: always keep your coffee maker and other accessories clean to experience the ultimate gourmet luxury.
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