How To: Make Great Coffee at Home
Wake up to a smooth morning cappuccino or relax with a soulful after-dinner espresso in your very own coffee bar
By Carmen Pang, 8.Feb
Take a good temperature
A cup of coffee is made up of 98 percent water and 2 per cent coffee. Needless to say, dirty or stale water will ruin the best-tasting bean. Water temperature is also a key factor – the ideal brewing temperature is between 94⁰C and 95⁰C. Water that is too cool will not properly extract the taste from the coffee; water that is too hot will burn the coffee. To make sure you have good temperature control, invest in a simple thermometer, like the Cooper Atkins pocket test thermometer, which measures temperatures from 10°C to 285°C; or the Cooper Atkins stem espresso thermometer, which measures temperatures from -10°C to 104°C and doubles as an espresso frothing thermometer.
Wake up to a smooth morning cappuccino or relax with a soulful after-dinner espresso in your very own coffee bar
Start with good beans
It all boils down to this: you won’t make a good cup of coffee without good coffee beans. Many coffee purists insist on single-origin beans from the three major coffee-growing regions in the world. Beans from Central and South America are light-bodied, sharply acidic and have bright flavors with a clean, crisp finish. Beans from Africa and Arabia are characterised by their winy acidity, chocolate and fruit undertones, rustic flavors and intense aromas.
Specialty Arabica beans from Asia and the Pacific rim are prized for their richness, full body, long finish, earthiness and gentle acidity. Être Bon Gallery and Academy, the retail arm of Boncafé International, carries 12 single-origin beans that can be roasted on demand and ground to your preference. For espresso, try Jones The Grocer’s Espresso blend, which is made from specialty-grade beans sourced from Brazil, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia.
Hario Skerton grinder
Keep it fresh
Coffee beans lose their freshness quickly especially once they are ground. To prolong the beans’ freshness, a coffee grinder is a good and inexpensive investment. The grinding size to use depends on the brewing method - a coarse grind for French press, a medium grind for drip coffeemaker, and an extra-fine grind for espresso machine. Try hand-grinding your beans with this Hario Skerton grinder. Its ceramic conical burrs consistently yield an even grind and are easy to maintain.
Cooper Atkins espresso thermometer
A cup of coffee is made up of 98 percent water and 2 per cent coffee. Needless to say, dirty or stale water will ruin the best-tasting bean. Water temperature is also a key factor – the ideal brewing temperature is between 94⁰C and 95⁰C. Water that is too cool will not properly extract the taste from the coffee; water that is too hot will burn the coffee. To make sure you have good temperature control, invest in a simple thermometer, like the Cooper Atkins pocket test thermometer, which measures temperatures from 10°C to 285°C; or the Cooper Atkins stem espresso thermometer, which measures temperatures from -10°C to 104°C and doubles as an espresso frothing thermometer.
De Dietrich Combi Fridge Freezer
A dash or a douse of milk
Having fresh milk on hand at your coffee bar is important as many espresso-based coffees, such as latte and cappuccino, are served or crafted with milk. In general, milk can be stored between 0°C and 4°C for up to seven days in the refrigerator. Take care not to expose milk to different temperature extremes as doing so will shorten its shelf life. To electronically control optimal refrigeration temperature, try the sleek De Dietrich Combi Fridge Freezer, which incorporates such technology as Intelligent Control System to maintain the freshness of delicate foods for up to four times longer.
The Concept Coffee series by Jenaer Glas
Serve with style
A cup of gourmet coffee, bursting with aroma and taste, can be even more satisfying when it is served in a beautiful cup and saucer. The Concept Coffee series by Jenaer Glas from premium crystalware producer Schott Zwiesel offers authentic design combined with functionality for serving. The espresso, coffee and cappuccino cups, complemented with porcelain saucers, are made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass and are flavour-neutral and do not discolour.
Pictures courtesy of respective brands
This story is adapted from "Coffee Culture", published in Singapore Tatler Homes Dec-Jan 2011/2012 issue.
