How brewing coffee at home begins
Do you remember the first time you had a truly amazing cup of coffee? Maybe traveling abroad, or at your favorite coffee shop, or a friend’s house? I had worked at Starbucks for over four years and it wasn’t until I was taught about food pairings and fresh-brewed coffee that it hit me…this simple drink is delicious and complex and satisfying – not to mention that first buzz of caffeine! I even remember the blend of coffee that got me hooked, Café Verona, paired with a dark chocolate cake.
After leaving Starbucks and many coffee highlights along the way I find myself in Thailand. It seems Thais sling coffee from every nook and cranny. You can’t go more than a hundred meters without running into some kind of coffee establishment (probably selling instant coffee full of sugar). Despite the coffee saturation, I find few places outside of Bangkok center (not including Chiang Mai which has a great coffee scene) make a good solid cup of coffee (“What is drip coffee?” is what many people behind the coffee shop counter may ask). That is why I have embarked on my own mission to create great coffee at home – barista powers activate! But I don’t have a $5,000 fancy espresso machine at my house so how can I get a great cup of coffee at home?
Coffee Simple is all about helping you become more knowledgeable about coffee and to make amazing coffee at home without fancy equipment.
- You don’t need a lot of money or an expensive espresso machine to brew at home.
- Learn more about the nuances of the different coffee beans and how they affect the quality of coffee you brew.
- And the most fun is learning to taste and explore new coffees and ways of preparing those delicious beans.
Prepare coffee with simple methods
This is not just for hipsters or “crazy coffee people”. Taking the time to prepare that morning cup of coffee changes your morning ritual. Not only do you get a better cup of coffee, but it slows down your routine, forcing you to take just a little breath before meeting the challenges of the day. We can all use that.
Simple handmade methods mean you can start this journey on the cheap. A few items and you can be ready to start your first homebrew for under 500฿. Even with simple equipment, there are many ways to brew coffee at home. To get started here are two basic methods:
Getting the right beans
One of the crucial variables that will affect the quality of your homemade coffee is the quality of your beans. You can have all the most expensive equipment in the world but with terrible coffee beans you will get terrible coffee.
I don’t recommend going out and buying the most expensive beans you can find, rather use something like Continental Blend or Their Best Selling Thai Coffee – Khun Chang Khian. You can buy great coffees from COFFEECULTURE.ASIA and if you use the coupon code “COFFEESIMPLE” you get 15% off your first order.
It is an understatement to say there is a lot that goes into growing and processing and getting the coffee to your cup so right now don’t stress too much about it and just try coffee that is not instant and not pre-ground. (For more details read about single-origin coffees here.)
Get the right grind
If you are not going to grind your own coffee, which is completely fine for now, then you should know that each style of preparation requires a different fineness or coarseness to make a great cup of coffee. Trust me, you do not want to use an espresso grind to make a cold brew! If you get your coffee pre-ground then make sure it matches your brewing method. But really, you should get a grinder, they are cheap and level up your coffee game.
Here is an article on grinders that should give you an idea as to what kind of grinder is right for you.
Learn, experiment, and enjoy
Evidence of coffee drinking dates as far back as the 10th century. With a history that long, there is an overwhelming amount of information to explore about this wonderful beverage. Getting into coffee can seem intimidating but don’t worry it’s just a cup of coffee. It’s easy to start poking around and learn little by little.
My goal is to help you make superior coffee at home, get away from generic-instant-sugar-loaded drinks, and provide ways to enjoy that cup of coffee day after day. I learn new things about coffee daily and am constantly amazed at the depth that this topic has around it.