A home espresso machine like the Breville Barista Touch makes the process easier with the same results, but there are still things you can do to make your coffee even more enjoyable.
1 Make sure your coffee is fresh for optimum flavour
Starting with fresh coffee is one of the most important things you can do for a great flavoured coffee.
• Pre-ground coffee beans can often lack the flavour of those that are freshly ground, so buying the beans and grinding at home for each coffee you make is a better option.
• The optimum time to use your beans is between about 10 to 30 days after roasting. Check the ‘roasted on’ date on the to ensure you’re getting the best out of your beans!
• Buy your coffee in smaller bags so that you use it all while it’s still fresh. More and more cafes are roasting and selling their own beans, so why not support your local and pick up a bag from them?
2 Don’t store your coffee in the fridge or freezer
Don’t be tempted to store your coffee in the fridge or freezer. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t help keep the coffee fresh and the moisture from condensation may ruin the beans.
3 For silky, barista quality foam, use milk straight from the fridge
Most people don’t know that cold milk is a lot easier to froth than warm milk. So, when you’re making your coffee, use milk straight from the fridge. It will make your foam denser and it will last longer too.
If you want to be even more particular, you can also chill the jug you’re going to use. A warm jug can transfer temperature to the milk relatively quickly so keeping it cool helps. An easy hack is running it under cold water ahead of each use.
4 Grind is king
Having the right grind for the type of method you are using to make your coffee is incredibly important. Plungers, espresso machines, filter coffee etc all use a different grind and using the wrong one can impact the flavour of your coffee.
A burr grinder is the best type of grinder to use when grinding your beans as it will deliver a uniform and consistent grind. Coffee machines like the Breville Barista Touch have a burr grinder built into the machine, but you can also buy a standalone machine like the Breville Smart Grinder Pro.
5 Choose the right roast
The flavour of your coffee will be affected by the roast that you are using. Choosing the right roast isn’t as easy as light or dark. The variety of bean and the method used to roast them will determine their flavour profile.
Why not chat to your local barista about the coffee beans they have on offer and have fun experimenting with the different blends?
Click here for more information on the Breville Barista Touch.
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