The secret of making high-quality coffee that I figured out after three years of seclusion

You make yourself a cup of latte every morning, and your spouse, family or roommates love your coffee very much, but have you ever thought about whether you really use the full potential of coffee? Is your new or second-hand coffee machine really used to its maximum effect?

Today, Michael Munroe, two-time Western Australian Barista Championship champion and currently living in Zurich, Switzerland, will introduce to you 10 tips that can take the quality of your own brewed coffee to the next level. As long as you learn these tips, your coffee will taste as good as that made by a barista!

1 • Understand your taste preferences

Do you like fruity coffee, like berries or stone fruits? Or do you prefer a sweeter coffee, with the sweetness of honey and the aroma of jasmine? Or a coffee that tastes like hot chocolate? Do you want to know the origin code of the coffee? Do you want to know how the coffee is grown and picked? Do you like single-origin coffee or blended coffee? Michael said: "I often encourage people to taste different flavors of coffee and find out what they like best. Once you determine your taste preferences, you have found the direction you should strive for."

2. Make friends with the barista or roaster

“Most coffee professionals are passionate about coffee and they like to share their coffee knowledge with customers,” Michael said.

Michael encourages everyone to communicate more with baristas and roasters, ask more questions, and learn more.

3 • Buy a digital scale

A digital scale is not expensive, usually only about $30. A digital scale can help you keep the amount of grounds accurate and stable, which is crucial to improving the quality of coffee.

The electronic scale is very simple to use. You just need to put the commonly used amount of powder into the handle and put it on the electronic scale to weigh (remember to peel it).

The brewing time of coffee should be controlled within 28-30 seconds. You can adjust the brewing time by increasing or decreasing the amount of coffee powder. Ideally, the amount of coffee powder should be controlled at 20 grams, the output should be 40 grams, and the brewing time should be 28 seconds.

Whether it’s a single, double or extra espresso, the principles of coffee brewing remain the same. “Our goal is to keep the quality consistent,” Michael says.

4 • Record the recipe

After determining the parameters such as the amount of powder and brewing time, be sure to remember to write down the recipe. As we just said, stability is the premise and the key to ensuring quality. When changing the type of coffee, you need to make appropriate adjustments based on the original recipe according to the characteristics of the coffee. "This will make your brewing process more efficient and the quality is more guaranteed." Michael said.

5. Ensure equipment is clean

Although you don't need to clean it every day, your home coffee machine still needs regular cleaning and maintenance.

Always rinse the coffee machine's head, portafilter, filter bowl and steam wand with hot water before and after each use.

In addition, the inside of the coffee machine should be cleaned regularly with a special agent to remove scale, grease and other residual substances. You need to decide how often to clean the coffee machine based on how often you use it. The cleaning process is very simple, so don't forget to clean it because you are afraid of trouble!

In addition to professional agents, you can also use white vinegar for cleaning. Just mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio to thoroughly clean the inside of the coffee machine. After each cleaning, be sure to waterproof the coffee machine more. The first three cups of coffee made cannot be drunk.

6. Store coffee beans properly

We all know that coffee beans must be fresh. Freshly roasted coffee beans reach their best quality in 7-21 days. To this end, coffee beans must be stored in the right way. The best way is to buy a fixed amount of coffee beans every week, and then store them in a sealable bag in a dark, dry and cool place, such as a cupboard.

Once ground, the aroma and flavor of the coffee will be lost faster, so be sure to grind it as needed before brewing.

7 • Use filtered water

Fresh filtered water can ensure the purity of the coffee taste, especially in areas with poor water quality. Impurities in the water will not only affect the quality of the coffee, but also damage the coffee machine.

8 • Use a thermometer

For home coffee, using a thermometer is essential to improve the quality of milk frothing. Thermometers are inexpensive and can be purchased at coffee equipment retailers or online. Thermometers can be attached directly to the milk jug, so you can always check the temperature of the milk while frothing it. The ideal temperature for frothing milk should be between 60-65℃; for soy milk, 55℃.

After repeated practice and becoming familiar with the temperature of the milk jug, you can also whip the milk perfectly and delicately like a barista without a thermometer.

9. Improve milk frothing

Michael said it was more difficult to froth milk at home than in a cafe because "the quality of the coffee machine is different", but that didn't mean you couldn't froth milk as smooth and creamy as a barista.

“The key is temperature. Only when the temperature is right can the milk bring out more flavors in the coffee,” he said. “The steam wand is immersed in the milk surface to allow the steam to enter the milk. The goal is to control the amount of air and make the foam as small and fine as possible. The milk should be swirled in the milk tank until the texture is smooth.”

"If you fail, make it again with fresh cold milk. Don't throw the coffee away, which is even more wasteful," said Michael.

10. Make coffee more beautiful

If your brewing recipe and operation are accurate, the coffee oil should be brown, fine and shiny. At this time, add some frothed milk and your coffee will become more beautiful.

For beginners, Michael recommends letting the milk flow freely, saying that the feeling of perfectly whipped milk and crema mixed together is perfect in itself.

If you want to learn how to make latte art, you need a long period of practice, and you can find many teaching videos on the Internet.

author

Leanne Tolra

English original address

www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2016/07/14/10-easy-tweaks-will-make-your-coffee-taste-so-much-better