Waking up in the morning without coffee is impossible for many. Coffee prepares us for the day and lets us get through it at university or in the office.
But now I am at the age at which one begins swapping card box wine for a wine bottle (made of glass!) and sometimes spends $1 more on a good beer instead of reaching for a can.
Naturally, it’s also the time that the same thing happened with my coffee.
I spoke to my friend Luise R who has been working at a great cafe in Bangkok since 2014. She definitely knows how good coffee works.
As an amazing barista and barista trainer, she gives internal training for employees.
She gave me a few professional coffee tips and tools that will help you make wonderful coffee in your own kitchen.
Filter Coffee or Espresso?
Not all coffee is the same, that’s for sure.
But espresso and filter coffee don’t just differ in taste and looks – the difference starts with the coffee bean itself.
Of course, there are no espresso and filter coffee plants, but the beans differ enormously.
-Luise
The coffee beans are roasted a little darker for espresso than for filter coffee because the acid content in the beans decreases as the degree of roasting progresses.
In addition to “single origins”, pure types of coffee, espresso beans are often mixed, so-called “blends”.
So, which one should you choose?
That is a decision that you have to make at the beginning.
-Luise
The type of coffee decides which equipment is needed at home.
If you want to prepare espresso at home, it is best to invest in a good portafilter machine.
Luise knows I own the Breville Barista Express, and she (like myself) won’t shut up about how great it is, for a home espresso machine.
“In the espresso maker, the water has to properly boil first so that the coffee can be prepared.
And boiling water dissolves bitter substances and acids in the coffee – after which the coffee tastes good.”
The optimal water temperature for coffee is 92-95 degrees.
Back to Basics
If you want to prepare a simple, tasty, and high-quality filter coffee at home, Luise recommends a classic hand brew from a hand filter that is placed directly on the cup or a carafe.
A paper filter and the coffee powder are placed in the hand filter, which is then poured with hot water.
“If you want to make large quantities of coffee straight away because you are expecting a lot of guests, you can use a classic French press,” she says.
And there are also differences when it comes to paper filters.
The classic paper filters, which we still know from our parents’ filter machine, do not have a triangular shape but are flattened at the bottom. Luise explains:
There is too big a barrier for the coffee to flow through, so it is in contact with the hot water for far too long – that again dissolves the bitter substances that we do not want in the coffee.
Paper filters should therefore have a point at the bottom that makes it easier for the coffee to flow through.
Spend More for Good Coffee!
Be it a supermarket, a health food store, or even coffee shops – coffee can be bought everywhere.
The assortment ranges from whole to ground beans, from cheap to expensive, from 250-gram bags to 1.5 kilos family packs.
In between, packs are labeled with organic or Fairtrade seals on them, and the coffee shelf is ready.
In principle, Luise recommends buying coffee from local roasters.
The on-site staff advises which coffee is best for your own taste and explains exactly what is in it and where the coffee comes from.
Unfortunately, industrial coffee labels are often completely incomprehensible and non-transparent.
It would help if you didn’t blindly rely on Fairtrade and organic labels either. They often only have vague requirements for coffee growing and trading and say nothing about the quality and taste.
In principle, The rule is: Nobody has won anything with a pack of coffee for three euros – neither the consumer nor the local coffee farmers.
Where Does the Coffee Come from?
In addition to the preparation and roasting of the bean, geographical conditions can also affect the taste of the coffee bean.
What are the floors like? Which minerals can be found in the soil? At what altitude is the coffee grown?
There are certain taste profiles that can be assigned to certain continents or growing areas:
In Africa, for example, there are often fruity coffee beans that are a little lighter.
In Asia, the coffee tastes more chocolaty and nutty, almost earthy, Luise explains.
She advises buying coffee as whole beans and grinding it yourself. It’s worth investing in a coffee grinder.
Freshly ground coffee simply tastes better.
There are more coffee grinders on the Internet than sand by the sea, and prices range from cheap to small cars.
It depends on your needs. If you use less coffee, a simpler hand mill will carry out the same function.
If you want to experiment more, you should look around at the slightly more expensive electric grinders.
This allows the grinding degree to be set more precisely.
This is important when coffee is prepared using different methods. For instance, beans for espresso have to be ground finer, since the contact with the water is shorter than with filter coffee.
Here you will find our article on quiet coffee grinders.
Take Your Coffee Out of the Fridge
One thing that Luise highlight:
“The rumor that coffee belongs in the refrigerator persists, but it has no business there.”
Because coffee beans attract moisture and aromas, which spoils the taste of the coffee, coffee should be stored dry and airtight at room temperature.
Beans last up to six months. Ground coffee should be used within four to six weeks.
Finishing Thoughts
This concludes the most relevant, helpful coffee tips from a professional barista.
Listening to her will ensure that your coffee always tastes great!
