It’s International Coffee Day! Are you someone who needs five cups before you’re out the door in the morning? I’m a one-cup-a-day kinda gal… any more and it sends me properly loopy. But I do very much enjoy that one cup.
In the UK we drink an average of 95 million cups of coffee a day, with 65% of that being drunk at home. We spoke to Irene Ippolito, marketing manager for Illy about how you can get barista-style coffee at home.
1. Get freshly roasted coffee beans
There are two main types of coffee beans – the Arabica (sweeter, softer taste) and Robusta (strong, full-bodied). Finding the right coffee bean for you is essential to prepare the perfect beverage every time.
2. It’s all in the grind
The grind of your coffee will greatly influence the end result, as it impacts the amount of contact time between the hot water and the beans. Grind it too fine and you will have a bitter coffee, while grinding it too coarsely will give you a watery blend. Invest in a quality coffee grinder or machine to ensure every cup tastes like it was made by a professional barista.
3. Storage wars
Many underestimate the importance of proper coffee storage and its effect on taste. It must be stored in a cool, dry place but never in the fridge or freezer, as the defrosting process can damage the coffee beans, making them lose their original flavour. Keep coffee in an airtight container where you’d normally store your other cool dry goods.
4. Use a filter
Water hugely affects the taste of your cup of coffee, as it makes up 90% of the drink. Tap water can contain impurities such as minerals, metals and salts that can alter the taste, so the best thing to do is to use filtered water to give your coffee the best flavour.
5. Keep it fresh
Don’t forget that coffee goes stale. Ideally you want to drink it within a month of being roasted to savour that fresh taste. If you buy your beans whole you can choose to only grind what you need, when you need them.
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