Home Brewed Coffee 101

  Cold brew coffee is a refreshing and smooth alternative to traditional hot coffee. Learn how to make your own cold brew at home and discover the best tips and techniques for preparing this delicious beverage. Cold Brew is different than hot coffee that has been cooled.  This is made by adding coffee grinds and water that is either cold or room temperature together and letting it set in the fridge for about twenty-four hours.  This is kind of like the crock pot method of coffee because you "set it and forget it", you won't be able to enjoy it immediately.  This makes a different cup of coffee because it results in less acidity.  Many people will notice that it naturally is sweeter and smoother.  When it is time to enjoy it you can pour it through a filter.  Another option is when you begin making it you put the grinds in a cheesecloth bag like the kind used to make almond milk.  You can just take the bag out and toss the grinds and wash the bag f...

Single-serve coffee pods are a convenient and easy way to make a cup of coffee. Learn more about how to use them and find out if this is the best option for your coffee-making needs.  Single-serve coffee pods started becoming popular around 2010 with the invention of Keurig.  These are nice because this is the most convenient method.  Just pop a pod into the machine and push a button.  Naturally this means the least control over the outcome, but at the same time it allows for the most consistency.  This could be good or bad, it means you always get the cup you love or the cup you don't like. If you are interested in Keurig , you may view their official page.

The Aeropress is a popular coffee brewing device known for its simplicity and versatility. Discover the art of making delicious coffee with an Aeropress and learn different techniques and tips for the best coffee preparation.   An Aeropress technique is kind of like a combination of French Press and Espresso.  The technique has no one right way, many people do it differently.  This is kind of like a double-edged blade because it makes it more problematic to prescribe a method.  What we can do though, is use tips from the pros and emulate the best recipes.  First the water is heated up.  Invert the Aeropress so the plunger itself is on the counter.  Next coffee grinds are poured into the Aeropress.  We want to use about twice the grinds you would normally use. Then all of the water is added like a French press except we do not worry about pre-infusion and bloom.  Instead you will stir this rather vigorously for about thirty seconds.  Once...

  Espresso is a highly concentrated coffee beverage made with finely ground coffee beans and hot water. Learn about different methods of coffee preparation and how about enjoying espresso at home. One day quite some time back a coffee drinker didn't want to have to wait for their coffee to finish brewing so they asked the question "What would happen if I used pressure to force the water through the bed of grinds?"  This led to the creation of Espresso.  Rather than just making regular coffee quicker it actually made an entirely different kind of coffee with a unique flavor.  Other coffee drinks that are built on that are lattes and cappuccinos.  The idea is to use steam to foam up or heat some milk to be added to the espresso.  This is usually the most expensive to make in terms of purchasing the necessary equipment and often the most difficult to master.  The cheaper machines will normally have a cost approaching $100.  The problem with these mac...

The French press is a popular coffee brewing method that produces a rich and flavorful cup of coffee. Learn how to use a French press and master the art of coffee making with this comprehensive guide. French Pressed coffee is, by some, considered to be the purest form of coffee.  It is a method of brewing by immersion.  It is achieved by steeping grinds in the water for a short period and then depressing a plunger.  The plunger is attached to the filter which is a fine mesh.  Because a paper filter is not used, the oils remain in the cup.  This creates a different mouthfeel when tasting which some prefer, while others do not.  Also of note, is that this method can result in some grinds making their way into your cup and having a gritty texture.  The oils can lead to elevated cholesterol levels if done too much and when consuming excessive fatty foods.  Before I begin I get the tap water as hot as it will go and fill up the French press and my cups...

This recipe is based on an affogato, but with a few tweaks.  Take some ice cream (usually vanilla, but you could also go for a coffee-flavored one as well) and pour in some cold coffee (it doesn't matter if it is iced or cold brewed).  Optionally you can add in some Irish cream or Kahlua if you like it to be more of an adult dessert.

The modern coffee consumer has more ways to prepare coffee than ever before.  I intend to discuss each in further detail, but for now, these are: French Press Espresso Manual Pour Over Syphon Aeropress Single Serve Pods Percolator Cold Brew Standard Coffee Machine