Ten tips for the perfect cafe style coffee at home

The cost of buying a daily coffee from a cafe stacks up to a huge $1400 per year! Cut your coffee spending by making your very own cafe-quality coffee at home. Follow these ten tips and you will be on your way to being your own barista.

It all starts with the beans. The most important thing to remember is that fresh is best. When buying beans, look at the roast date rather than the ‘best before’ date. Beans need to be rested for one week after roasting and then consumed within 6 weeks for the best coffee experience.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing beans. Experiment with lighter blends which are more palatable and darker beans (like the Robusta variety) that are stronger and more acidic.

Don’t store beans in the fridge or freezer as the moisture will ruin the essential oils. Always store coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Invest in a vacuum storage container for the freshest coffee beans.

You don’t have to do a barista course to get cafe quality coffee at home- simply invest in the right machine which will do all of the hard work for you. Look for a model which is totally automatic, producing quality coffee at the touch of a button.

The grind of your coffee will greatly influence the taste as it impacts the amount of contact time between the hot water and the beans. A fine grind will result in bitter coffee while coarse grind gives a watery result. Experiment with grind settings using a good-quality grinder.

For the best flavour possible grind your coffee just before you brew your cuppa, or find a machine with an in-built grinder.

Aim to heat the milk between 60-70 degrees C. Use a thermometer as overheated milk will burn the coffee beans and create a bitter coffee.

Aim to create a thick, paint-like consistency rather than bubbles, by submerging the steam wand into the milk at a 45 degree angle. Swirl the jug gently after heating to retain the foam.

Contrary to popular belief it is actually easier to froth skim milk than full cream milk. If you are not confident frothing your own milk it could be worth investing in a machine that has an Instant Frothing Device (IFD) and can do the hard work for you.

Match the cup to the size of the drink as anything too big will make coffee lose heat faster than you can drink it. A double-walled glass is a great choice for coffee lovers as they are comfortable to hold while keeping the heat in.