The menu at some coffee houses reads like a novel. Coffee has evolved from a simple cup of joe to a tongue-twisting concoction of different types of beans, a variety of creamers, several types of sweeteners and a myriad of flavorings. However, you can make different kinds of coffee at home with some fresh coffee beans, a few tools and ingredients.
Black Coffee
Step 1
Select a coffee bean. Coffee beans from different parts of the world produce drinks with different body weights and acidity levels. Choose regular or decaffeinated depending on the amount of caffeine you like.
Step 2
Grind the beans. If you choose whole bean coffee, grind them according to the type of machine you are using. Most drip coffee machines use medium grind coffee.
Step 3
Place 8 tbsp. coffee grounds inside an unbleached paper filter inside the filter basket.
Step 4
Add 24 oz. water to the machine's water reservoir and brew.
Step 5
Pour into a warmed cup and drink immediately. The longer the coffee sits on the warming plate, the more bitter it becomes.
Tips and Warnings
- Add sweetener, such as sugar or syrup, and creamer, such as non-dairy creamer, milk, or half and half, to coffee for a sweeter, creamier flavor. Beans can vary according to the level of roasting, with light roast exhibiting a milder flavor and dark roast a more robust flavor. Purchase your beans fresh and only grind the amount you need. Coffee is perishable and the quality of the coffee degrades as it ages. Store unused beans in the freezer. Because coffee oils can accumulate in the crevices of your machine and taint the flavor, clean the pot and filter basket frequently. For weaker coffee, use only 1 tbsp. coffee grounds per 6 oz. water. To make espresso, use 2 tbsp. finely ground coffee per 2 oz. water. Make espresso in a home espresso machine or a moka steam pot. As of 2011, espresso machines sell for between $60 and $2,000. Moka steam pots sell for less than $30. To make cappuccino, combine equal amounts of espresso with steamed, frothed skim milk. Add sweeteners or flavorings to taste. Irish whiskey, sugar and heavy cream can be added to drip coffee to make Irish Coffee.
- Coffee that is ground too fine can clog your filter. Bleached paper filters can contain harmful dioxins and reusable filters can collect oils that can turn rancid.
Things You'll Need
- 8 tbsp. coffee beans
- Coffee grinder
- Unbleached paper filter
- Coffee pot
- 24 oz. water
- Cup
- Spoon
- Sweetener (optional)
- Creamer (optional)
References
- Coffee: Advice on Making Different Kinds of Coffee
- Gourmet-Coffee-Zone.com: Coffee Beans - Explore the Variety
- Talk About Coffee: Coffees of the World
- Sweet Marias: An Updated Visual Guide to the Roast Process
- Talk About Coffee: Drip Coffee Maker
- What's Cooking America: Coffee - Perfect Cup of Coffee
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