How to make the best coffee at home

21 août 2020 | By Ameublements Tanguay

You are used to having a good cup of coffee from the office machine or on your way to work at your favorite café.

Once you get home, you'd love to enjoy a cup of coffee that tastes just as good. But you wonder, “Is it possible to make coffee that tastes as good as the coffee at my local café, and if so, how?”

Is it possible to make good coffee at home?

Well, yes, it is entirely possible to make coffee at home that is just as delicious as the coffee you get at the office or your local café, or even better. To do so, you simply need to choose the coffee machine and accessories that best suit your needs.

For the true coffee lover

Some people are true baristas at heart. They worship coffee and like to control every aspect of its preparation—water temperature, pressure, grind, etc.

If you are this type of person, we recommend that you consider semi-automatic espresso machines. These coffee machines are the perfect compromise between manual and automatic espresso machines, and they give the amateur barista who uses them much more control.

Some semi-automatic espresso machines are equipped with a steam nozzle for manually frothing milk and even a built-in adjustable grinder that allows you to choose the fineness of the grind.

If the semi-automatic espresso machine you are interested in does not have these features, you can always purchase a milk frother and coffee grinder separately. For maximum durability and longevity, choose a steel or ceramic grinder.

For the Sunday barista

But if you're more of a weekend barista and would prefer a machine that's easy to use, we suggest you consider purchasing an automatic espresso machine.

This type of machine does everything for you. There is nothing to adjust, as the coffee is prepared automatically.

To choose the automatic espresso machine that's right for you, first determine your needs and compare them to the features of the machine you're interested in.

How many coffees will you make per day? This number will help you determine the size of the water tank you need. Automatic espresso machines often have water tanks of one liter or more, while other machines have a direct water inlet and no tank.

The number of coffees you make each day will also help you determine the size of the bean hopper. The larger the hopper, the less often you will need to refill it. As a guide, a hopper that holds 125 grams of coffee can make around five coffees, while a 250-gram hopper can make around fifteen.

As for the milk frother, you have two options: if the machine is equipped with a steam nozzle, you will need to froth your milk manually. But if it is equipped with an automatic frother, all you have to do is pour the milk into the container provided and watch the machine do the work without any intervention on your part.

It's up to you to decide what suits you best.

For students and busy workers

Next up are capsule coffee machines: the perfect appliance for students and busy workers.

With this type of machine, there is no ground coffee to handle and no filter holder or carafe to clean. Coffee is prepared automatically at the touch of a button.

The main differences between capsule coffee machines can be summarized in four points:

1. the type of beverage that can be prepared (some machines only make coffee, while others make a wider range of beverages—tea, herbal teas, hot chocolate, etc.);
2. the size of the device;
3. the size of the tank;
4. and certain other features, such as a motorized head (for easier opening of the spout) or the ability to pre-program the time for preparing your coffee.

Some of these machines also have a reservoir into which the capsules fall directly when the spout is raised, eliminating the need to remove the capsule after each use.

When choosing your capsule coffee machine, consider the type of beverage you like to drink, the size of the water tank, and the space available on your countertop, as some machines are larger than others.

Make the best coffee in the comfort of your own home

As we have just seen, yes, it is possible to make coffee at home that is just as tasty as at the office or your local café. The important thing is to choose the right coffee machine for your needs.

Then all you have to do is get out your favorite coffee, turn on the machine, and sip this delicious beverage in the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy your coffee!