Most of us love starting our day with a good cup of coffee. It can help you keep up with a fast-paced lifestyle, busy work weeks, numerous social events, and even personal engagements. However, many people love drinking coffee when they’re out and about. They never indulge themselves in the real process of brewing their coffee at home.
This might sound like plenty of work, but it offers more benefits than you’d expect. It can help you save more coffee money, always get the perfect blend you want, avoid the long lines at coffee shops, and improve your homebrewing skills too. If you’re already a homebrewer yourself, these tips can help you learn advanced skills and become a qualified barista.
1. Get whole coffee beans
Stale ground coffee is never the best option if you want rich flavors. If you want to improve your cups of coffee, always start with whole coffee beans. A good homebrewer knows how to grind their beans properly. Every type of roast has different flavor notes. Take note that when the beans are ground, their exposure to a surface area will increase the oxidation rate, and the coffee flavors will start to evaporate.
With that in mind, only brew your coffee when you need it. The coffee’s natural flavor will be affected in a matter of 30 minutes to an hour. Using freshly ground coffee will give you more delicate, subtle notes and pronounced flavor. Only buy coffee beans that are roasted no more than two to three weeks for peak freshness.
2. Buy the right equipment
Of course, you need quality coffee-making equipment if you want to become a better home barista. If you’re looking to advance your skills and work at a coffee shop soon, choose something more complex than a standard French press. This will, of course, depend on the brewing method you currently prefer. These include pour-over brewers, espresso machines, handheld espresso makers, AeroPress, and more.
Another critical piece of equipment is a measuring scale to help you replicate or improvise a brew ratio to achieve a consistent taste. Brew ratios are necessary for taking control of the coffee flavor. Other things you’ll need include coffee grinders, electric kettle, coffee roasters, and filters.
3. Set a suitable workspace
The quality of your beans can be affected if you keep them in the freezer or fridge. Exposure to oxygen or oxidation will be your biggest enemy when it comes to containing the flavors of your coffee. If you want to keep the quality and flavors of your coffee beans, use an airtight container and place it at room temperature.
Light can also compromise the taste, so avoid using clear or transparent canisters. Also, don’t place them in a spot where strong afternoon sun is present. Keep them in a cool and dark location. On top of that, try purchasing smaller batches of freshly roasted coffee. They should be enough for at least two weeks to ensure they’re still fresh.
A countertop that is non-porous means that cleaning up will be easier. Quartz countertops, for instance, resist staining so you can just wipe spills without worrying about your workspace. A clean workspace can motivate anybody to work harder, plus it’s safer when handling food and beverages.
4. Take a course
You can absolutely learn coffee brewing at home and use online resources. On the other hand, if you’re a homebrewer looking to work as a professional barista, taking a course is highly advisable.
These courses are ideal for mastering skill sets and making you more qualified for employment opportunities. Look for educational institutions that offer certificate courses for coffee brewing. Choosing the right barista training is a major step to making a better latte or a powerful espresso.
5. Pursue feedback
The last thing on our list is getting the feedback you need to grow. If you’re a certified home brewer, invite your family members or friends to taste your coffee. The more variety of coffee you can make, the better. You can go with a flat white, cappuccino, latte, or espresso.
If you’re already working at a local cafe, the owner or manager can give you solid feedback. Ask for their opinions and take accountability for what you produce. If you’re too shy to ask the owner, your coworkers can give frank opinions about your coffee.
Brewing your own coffee cannot just bring you personal indulgence and satisfaction. Advancing your home brewing skills can also help you make a career out of it. A career in the coffee industry that you love and are passionate about. We highly recommend participating in communities engaged in planting and brewing coffee beans. You’ll acquire more knowledge and skills from such groups.
