Whether you start your day with a hot cup of coffee or socialise with friends over the much-loved brew, coffee is one of the nation's favourite drinks, and we can see why!
With many people working from home, having a delicious tasting coffee to get you through the working day is key. There are so many different types of coffee, so we have given you step-by-step tips for a range of methods to allow you to create a cup of coffee as good as one you would get in your local coffee shop.
There are so many different types of coffee, so we have
How to Make French Press Coffee
Invented in 1929, the French Press method is known as one of the best and easiest methods for creating delicious, consistent coffee. Arguably, this method extracts more flavours than any other method. For coffee drinkers who enjoy a flavourful, strong tasting experience, this technique may be well suited to you.
1. Warm up the press: Rinse your empty French Press with hot water. This maintains the temperature when brewing, which will create the best extraction.
2. Measure and grind your coffee beans: Measure out 56g of coffee (around 8 tablespoons) and grind it until it becomes a breadcrumb-like consistency.
3. Add hot water: Once your French Press is all prepped, remove the hot water that was warming it up and add your coffee into the empty press. Add hot water, and fill it up halfway to saturate the grounds. Make sure to start the count-up timer as soon as you add in hot water.
4. Stir: When your timer reaches 1 minute, use a wooden spoon to stir and break the top layer, also known as the crust.
5. Add more hot water: Now that you have broken the crust, fill the press all the way up to the top with hot water. Put the lid on and allow the coffee to brew.
6. Press: When the timer reaches 4 minutes, firmly push the press all the way down.
7. Pour and enjoy: Pour your freshly pressed coffee into a mug. If the coffee grounds sit for too long, it will continue to extract, leading to a bitter-tasting coffee, so ensure that you immediately serve your coffee. Enjoy!
How to Make Pour-Over Coffee
This is another easy and brilliant method for creating a delicious tasting coffee. Unlike the French Press, the Pour Over technique continuously saturates the coffee grounds with water for most of the brewing cycle, creating a faster, more efficient brew. With this method you can control the texture, taste, temperature and strength of the coffee.
1. Boil The Kettle: Start by bringing cold water to a boil in the kettle.
2. Grind The Beans: If you are using whole beans, be sure to grind them to a similar consistency of granulated table salt (much finer than the grounds for French Press).
3. Prepare The Brewer And Filter: Place a filter in the brewer and rinse with hot water. This will remove the papery residue on the filter and allows the brewer to warm up, keeping your coffee hotter for longer. Once the brewer is warm, discard the water used for rinsing.
4. Add The Coffee: Add your coffee grounds to the filter, ensuring that the surface is level.
5. Add Hot Water: Once the water has reached a temperature of around 195-205 degrees (roughly after a minute of removal from the heat to prepare the brewer), slowly pour the hot water over the grounds, enough to completely saturate them. Stop pouring before the coffee starts to drip through. This is known as the 'bloom' pour which allows the coffee to de-gas.
6. Add The Remaining Water: Steadily pour in the rest of the water, keeping the water in the dripper between half and three quarters full. This should take around 3-4 minutes.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the filter, pour your perfectly brewed coffee into a mug and enjoy!
How to Make The Best Iced Coffee
Iced coffee has become very popular in the last decade, especially in the warmer months. This popularity shows no signs of slowing down either. Iced coffee is fairly easy to make and is great when you are in need of a refreshing drink throughout the day.
Iced Coffee Method
1. Add ground coffee to a cup and pour over around 200 ml of boiling water. Mix well until the coffee grounds completely dissolve. Allow to cool at room temperature or chill in the fridge.
2. Fill a glass with ice and pour over the chilled coffee.
3. Depending on your preference either enjoy it black or add around 50 ml of milk and mix.
4. Add any syrups you may wish if you like a sweeter tasting coffee and enjoy!
Ultimately, the best way to make coffee is completely down to personal preference. The method you choose will result in a different tasting experience.
