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How I Make Great-Tasting Coffee At Home

By Ashley French
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How I Make Great-Tasting Coffee At Home

There’s nothing like that first cup of coffee in the morning. Especially with two young kids, coffee is essential! We recently invested in an espresso machine, and while I’m still figuring out how to not burn the milk, it’s fun to play barista before the day begins. If you’ve been thinking about taking your at-home coffee a little more seriously, here are a few simple ways to make your morning cup taste better.

 

1. You Don’t Need Fancy Gear to Start
It’s easy to assume great coffee requires expensive equipment, but you don’t need to drop a paycheck on a machine with twelve settings and a steam wand. A French press, AeroPress, or Chemex can do wonders. They’re simple, reliable, and used by actual pros. You can use them, too. 

2. Choose Quality Beans
Your biggest coffee upgrade isn't your equipment. It's your beans. I wouldn't say I'm a coffee snob, but I'm loyal to a few roasters. When I went to the Four Seasons Maui 17 years ago I immediately needed to find out where they get their coffee from and I’ve been loyal ever since. I order bags directly from Hawaii Coffee Company. I'm also a fan of Joshua Tree Coffee which roasts exclusively organic beans, and in Los Angeles, I really like Maru Coffee.

I'm pretty straightforward when it comes to my coffee. I don't add any flavorings, but I do like Califia Farms Barista almond milk creamer. Coffee is personal, though, so make your cup the way you like it.

If you have no idea where to start, head to a local coffee shop and talk to the barista. They’ll help you figure out if you’re into fruity, nutty, or chocolatey flavors, and you can order a cup before committing to a bag. Once you’ve had fresh beans, there’s no going back. Also, grinding your beans right before brewing brings out the flavor.

3. Get the Ratio (and Water) Right
The coffee-to-water ratio is what separates “pretty good” from “who made this?” If you have a kitchen scale, use it. If not, aim for about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of coffee per 6 to 8 ounces of water—closer to 2 if you like it strong. For a French press, bump it up a little more. Use filtered water if you can, and keep the temperature around 200°F. That's hot enough to extract flavor, but not so hot that it'll burn your grounds.

Not that I'm going to win any barista championships, but I'm much better at making coffee than I used to be. Basically, if you start with good beans, get your ratio right, and tweak as you go… you'll be surprised by how good your coffee can get!
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1. The Aeropress makes coffee like a French press, but faster.
2. This sleek electric kettle has a digital temperature screen to make things easy.
3. The classic Chemex—perfect for pourovers.
4. These mugs are made by hand in Asheville, North Carolina. Each one is unique.
5. I always pop into Maru's shop in Los Feliz.
6. Take your coffee to go in this insulated, leak-proof tumbler.
7. This Baratza Encore coffee grinder is a good option for everything from espresso to drip.