Let’s face it. Coffee is important to you. You savor that cup of good morning coffee. Good taste and quality is critical; there’s really nothing worse than taking that first sip and it not tasting as you expected. But you’ve had trouble replicating at home the great coffee taste that you get at your local coffee shop. If you don't want to keep paying the coffee shop to make your coffee, you can start brewing it at home. We at Urnex know a thing or two about making coffee. Follow the steps below and you'll see that making good morning coffee is easier than you think - and can be fun too!

The right equipment

Make sure you have a coffee maker that can make your favorite kind of coffee, whether it's a pot of medium roast or a frothy cappuccino made with espresso. There are plenty of online resources extolling the virtues of one machine over the other. You don’t have to buy the most expensive machine to make a good cup of coffee.

Great beans

Good morning coffee requires great coffee beans. Two major contributors to the flavor and quality of your coffee are the brewing process and the beans. Different aspects of the beans affect the flavor created when you brew them. These factors include the country origin of the beans, whether it's a blend, the roast type (from dark to light), and the level of grind you choose. Just remember, there's no wrong choice when it comes to finding the type of coffee beans that are perfect for you, so experiment until you find what satisfies your taste buds. When purchasing coffee, find beans that were roasted most recently. Purchase fresh roasted coffee beans in small amounts to ensure the freshest flavor, and store it in an airtight glass or ceramic container.

Grind the beans

Using whole bean coffee and grinding it at home turns good morning coffee into amazing morning coffee. The size of the grinded coffee is key. Here’s also where you’ll have to do a little experimenting. The finer the grind, the more surface area will be exposed to the water, bringing out the coffee’s flavor. However, too fine a grind can result in a bitter brew. Grind the amount you need to use right before you brew it to ensure maximum flavor and freshness.

Best water

Since coffee is made mainly from water, the water you use will also greatly affect your brew. Filtered or bottled water is best, especially if your tap water has a strong taste or odor. Don't use softened or distilled water; minerals in water are important in the brewing process. Water temperature is also essential for great coffee; your brewer needs to keep a temperature between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit.

Right ratio

The general rule for brewing coffee is 1-2 tablespoons of coffee grounds to every 6 ounces of water you use. You can adjust the ratio until you find what meets your standards and suits your taste buds.

Brewing

Brewing time is another one of those crucial factors in making great coffee. Too short a brewing time will fail to bring out the flavors; too long will make coffee bitter. For a drip coffeemaker, the water should be in contact with the grounds for about 5 minutes during brewing. In an espresso machine, the water and coffee have contact for around 20-30 seconds. Adjust the contact time until you achieve the smooth flavor you’re looking for.

Clean your machine

Perhaps the most important and often overlooked factor in ensuring the best tasting coffee possible is a clean machine. Using soap and water for the removable parts of your brewer is ok, but if you want to remove the oily residue and limescale that build up from the brewing process, a thorough cleaning with specialty cleaning products, similar to what your coffee shop uses, is necessary. Also keep your bean grinders and reusable filters clean to prevent altering the coffee flavor in any way. Our Grindz cleaning tablets provide an easy, no fuss way to clean your grinder.

Don’t be intimidated by the seemingly “perfect” cup of coffee and fancy baristas at your local coffee shop. The truth is, good tasting coffee is easier to achieve than you may realize. Follow the tips above and have fun experimenting. You’ll be making good morning coffee in your own kitchen in no time.