Make a Perfect Coffee

We drink coffee every morning and even more times during the rest of the day. The stimulating capacity is not the only virtue of this drink, but it is the reason why we usually drink it. By having gotten so far into our routine, we have turned coffee into a product that is widely consumed, but not enjoyed. We get up early, with hardly any time, which forces us to have breakfast quickly and on the run or, directly, to do it at work drinking that liquid that comes out of the vending machine and that defining it as coffee would be very generous.

Enjoying a good coffee, its flavor, and its aroma is one of those little luxuries that are within everyone's reach and that will help to have those little moments of personal enjoyment and disconnect from the tedium of the daily routine. As there is never a bad time to enter the culture of good coffee, we propose a decalogue that will be very useful.

1. Buy freshly roasted beans

Packaged coffee has a great flavor and aroma…until you get used to freshly roasted coffee. Over time, the qualities of the coffee bean decrease. The advice proposed by Eating Well magazine is to buy it in a specialized store or even buy it fresh and roast it at home. And beware of supermarkets and bulk sales, oxygen and excess light are the worst enemies for coffee.

2. Buy a good coffee

Which doesn't mean you spend a lot of money on coffee. Taste is something very personal and there are dozens of varieties of the grain. Blue mountain is one of the most expensive, luxurious, and valued, but not everyone has to like it. More toasty, earthy, chemical... The best solution is to try the one that most closely resembles our taste or even mix it to achieve a flavor that is unique and special to us.

3. Keep it in optimal condition

To enjoy a grain in perfect condition there are two options: buy continuously or be careful in its conservation. Once you are used to it, the second option will be much more comfortable and cheaper. For good conservation it is advisable to follow the following advice :

Keep it at a cool temperature and away from any source of heat.

Close the container thoroughly ( transparent film can be used for greater security).

Grind only the coffee that is going to be consumed.

4. Grind it yourself

Like any other natural product, industrialization makes it easier for us to introduce it into our daily lives, but it also worsens its quality and virtues. Industrial grinding is the enemy of the flavor and aroma of coffee. In addition, the passage of time also negatively affects these properties. Buying large cans of ground coffee seems like it 's not a good deal if we want to enjoy a good cup. To grind the coffee ourselves, we only need a manual grinder. If you are lazy you can spend a little more money and buy an electric grinder.

5. Watch out for the water

Hard water or water with excess iron is very common in some regions of Spain. If you live in one of them, the best thing you can do is use water filters or buy bottled water, otherwise, the coffee will have certain unwanted nuances. If, on the other hand, you live in an area with good water, you can drink it directly from the tap. Another very common mistake is letting the water get too hot. If you like to burn your tongue and cry in pain with the first sip of coffee, go ahead. But for the rest of the people it will be enough to keep it warm, but without reaching the boiling point or, at least, waiting a bit before drinking it. Now that autumn is here and there is less and less time for winter, a piece of advice, proposed by The Week, in order not to make the mistake of heating the water too much, is to preheat the cup. Of course, be careful not to go overboard and burn yourself when you pick it up.

6. Buy a good filter

A bad filter wears out much sooner, it will end up leaving unwanted flavors and will fill the entire cup with grounds that ruin our coffee. There are high-quality single-use filters out there, but if you want one for the long term, you need to dig deep into your pocket and buy a quality one. It is an investment for many years and in this case the cliché that cheap is expensive is true.

7. Take care of the material

The coffee maker, the grinder, the filter, the cup... In this particular piece of equipment, each tool is decisive in the final result. The cycles of each one are different and it is important to adapt to them. The cup has to be washed after each use, but others can last longer. The best advice is to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for use and cleaning.

8. Take it how you want, but fine

Each teacher has his booklet and there are many ways to prepare a good Specialty coffee. The usual thing is to do it with a coffee maker, but it is not the only method. The important thing is to know the procedure and follow the correct steps because otherwise, every day will be a Russian roulette for our taste buds.

9. Have your cup

In a habit as personal as drinking coffee, we will appreciate having our own exclusive cup with which to enjoy the moment. Choose the one that suits your needs and tastes. On the one hand, the size and material are the two variables that will make you enjoy the coffee to a greater or lesser extent. On the other hand, choosing a design that we like will also help us enjoy this moment.

10. Enjoy the moment

The nine tips above would be worth nothing without this last point. It doesn't matter alone or in the company, having a moment of calm and tranquility away from the madding crowd should be something that we force ourselves to do in our day to day life, and what better way than with a good cup of coffee in hand.