For the longest time, the coffee I made at home never tasted like the brew I got at my local coffee shop. That meant I stopped a Tims a lot. However the cost of coffee at the drive-up has exploded. According to Tasting Table the price of coffee has been steadily increasing. In October 2019, coffee’s average price per pound in U.S. cities was $4.17. It has increased 38.8% by June 2022. The price per pound of coffee increased to $5.79. After much research and experimentation I have identified 7 quick tips make a bold and delicious cup of coffee at home or work.
Store your coffee right
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tore your coffee in a container with an air-tight lid, like a mason jar. You can or store a bag or can of coffee on a shelf or back of the pantry. You should find a spot free of humidity. Avoid the freezer – it’s humid in there. I use the OXO Airtight 1.7 Qt for Coffee and More Food Storage, Good Grips POP Container.
Warm your mug
If you pour hot coffee into a mug at a lower temperature, it won’t stay hot for long. You can prolong your coffee sipping pleasure by pre-warming the cup. Pour some hot water into the cup and let it sit while the coffee is brewing. Pout off the hot water before filling the mug with coffee and enjoy a longer-lasting hot cup of coffee.
Use the right coffee cup
Use a diner-style white coffee mug with thick walls. Thick-walled mugs maintain the coffee’s steaming hot temperature for longer. Avoid those dainty china teacups. They are going to drop in temperature quickly, leaving you with room-temperature coffee. Sturdy handcrafted ceramic mugs are fine too.
Too much water
A weak cup of coffee can be caused by too much water—or not enough coffee—for a good cup of joe. Start with two heaping tablespoons of coffee per cup of brew and then tweak the coffee/water ratio if needed.
Use good water
Tap water is convenient, but if you don’t like the taste of your tap water, don’t use it for coffee. Tap water impurities can affect the taste of your morning brew. Switch to filtered water or bottled spring water. Filtered water is free of minerals and are not acidic.
Clean your filter basket
This one would seem to be a no brainer, but have you ever checked the machine at the office? Make sure that you remove the used grounds directly after brewing. If they sit in the filter for a few days, they can get moldy and you’ll need to thoroughly clean the machine before using it again.
Clean your coffee machine
Your coffeemaker needs to be cleaned regularly. Wash the carafe, filter basket and lids in soapy water after every use. And at least once a month run a brew cycle with equal parts water and vinegar. Get full instructions on how to clean a coffee maker here.
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These seven quick tips can help you make your coffee taste like your favorite coffee shop brew.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
