The Well Equipped Guide to Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Coffee is a liquid chemical that you pour down your throat mindlessly and in massive quantities.
Sometimes.
But sometimes not. Sometimes coffee is a 20-minute session of self-care. Sometimes it's one perfect cup of an elixir that gives you power for the rest of the day. Do you sometimes gulp your coffee in the car while going 70 on the expressway? Sure. But sometimes you pay attention to it, and treat it like the lifelong friend that it is.
Our Well Equipped Guide to Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee asks an ambitious question: can our coffee be great not just sometimes, but all the time? The answer is yes—once you make some considerations.
First, you have to consider your coffee maker. Does it make good coffee? And what even is good coffee? The answer is not the same for everyone. There are practically as many machines and mechanisms for making coffee as there are fish in the sea. Or stars in the sky. Or Marvel movies. We'll outline these for you and help you pick one that works for your life.
Next, we'll move on to beans. There are days when only the artisanal stuff will do, and days when you just need to grab something from the grocery store that's not going to taste awful. We've got you covered there, too, with our guides to selecting beans and roasters.
From there, we'll get into the details: the water you're using, the mug you're sipping out of, and all the wild ideas for tricking your coffee out, including steamed milk, coconut milk, and even seltzer. The result is a cup of coffee that'll be just as great as you want it—whenever you want it. Let's dive in.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka1/7Step 1: Pick Your Brewing Method
By learning your optimal coffee brewing method, you will gain a defining sense of self. There are automatic drip and espresso options for the busy worker bee who needs to conquer the day and win at capitalism. There are time-consuming, ritually rewarding pour over or manual espresso experiences for the bearded hipster who works from a home office with a monstera plant in it. In short, there is a machine for every kind of coffee drinker. Here's a primer.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle2/7Step 2: Choose the Right Beans
Obviously the quality of the cup of coffee you make will depend on the quality of the beans you start with. To put things simply, fresh beans make the best coffee. Get into the habit of checking the roast date when you buy, if only to notice how drastically different the shelf life is between brands. Ideally, you want beans that were roasted in the past two weeks, which might be harder to find in a regular supermarket. (You'll have more success finding fresh beans at good coffee shops.) Store beans in an airtight container in cool, dry area—not in the freezer, where they absorb moisture and odors.
Choosing the right beans starts with identifying what you like. Do you like a dark roast or a light? Do you like fruity flavor profiles or nutty ones? It's also fun to experiment with coffees from different roasters, especially since many of them ship nationally or are available through coffee clubs with rotating selections. Coffee beans have different flavor profiles based on where they come from, so you can learn and explore by tasting beans sourced from around the world.
While the rise of third-wave coffee culture created a taste for lighter roasts, most craft roasters offer a range of different styles. Darker beans pick up more flavors from the roasting process than light roasts, and in the process delicate floral and fruitier flavors are lost in favor of cocoa and caramel notes. Some coffee drinkers, especially those who take their cup with milk and sugar, are opposed to more acidic coffees. If you prefer a dark roast for your drip, but want to branch out and try a trendy light roast vibe, try the espresso beans from a producer known for light roasts for your regular brewing method.
Read our guide to selecting the best artisan coffee roasters here.
Read our guide to the best coffees you can find at the regular grocery store here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka3/7Step 3: Get the Grind Right
The grind of your beans is one of the most important variables you can control when brewing coffee at home. Different brewing methods require drastically different grinds to produce optimal results. Espresso, for example, requires a fine grind, while you need something more coarse for drip or pour over, which relies on the hot water being able to flow freely through the grounds. Every method will require some experimentation to get right. If you’re really into exploring, various beans will show their character better with a slightly different grind, even on the same brewer.
Ideally, coffee is ground right before you make it, since it loses freshness and aroma immediately after grinding. Burr grinders produce the most even grind and are easy to adjust, while blade grinders, like those used for spices, tend to produce an inconsistent grind.
Read our product review of the best coffee grinders to find one that will make your mornings better.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle4/7Step 4: Don't Underestimate the Power of Water
Water makes up the vast majority of a cup of coffee, and you should approach it as an ingredient rather than a tool. The quality of your water affects how good of a solvent it is, and will have a lasting effect on the functionality your coffee machines. Your specific filtering needs will depend on the water composition of your location.
The ideal temperature for brewing coffee is 195-205° Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a thermometer, wait a minute after bringing water to a boil. (But, also, buy a thermometer!) Water that is too hot destroys some of the aromatic potential of the beans.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle5/7Step 5: Keep It Hot
Once you have unlocked the secret to making great coffee at home, you’ll never want to be separated from it. A good thermal mug is a solid investment for any budding coffee connoisseur. Metal options offer the longest temperature control, while glass and ceramic cups are less likely to hold on to flavors, something to consider if you add milk to your coffee.
Read our review of the best travel coffee mugs.
Read about our Search for a home coffee cup that keeps your coffee warm.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle6/7Step 6: Or...Keep it Cold!
Cold brew is a convenient way to make iced coffee by simply letting ground coffee infuse in cold water for several hours. Depending on the ratio used, cold brew can be made as a concentrate to dilute with water, or as a straight iced coffee.
The technique, which has only become commonplace in the US in the past 15 years, was long popular in Japan, where Kyoto-style coffee is made by letting ice slowly drip through the coffee grounds through an elaborate tower system instead of soaking coffee grounds in water and filtering them out. Compared to hot brewed coffee that has been chilled, cold brew is appreciated for its smoother profile and lower acidity.
Read our review of the best machines for making cold brew coffee
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt7/7Step 7: Trick It Out
There is no shortage of drinks you can make with coffee, from the classic steamed milk variations, to the edgy espresso and tonic. Now that you have a great base product, learn all of the wild ways you can spice up your coffee:
