How to make coffee at home

When it comes to making coffee at home, how do you know which method if best for you? Our coffee brewing guides can show you how to achieve your perfect drink, whether it's filter or espresso, a quick coffee hit or a slow Sunday brew. Here's our advice for ensuring you have all the details just right to make the best coffee you can, however you happen to like it.

Types of coffee roasts

Its not only important to choose the roast that you prefer, but also the roast that works best with your method of brewing. If youre not sure what the difference is from light to dark, our How Coffee is Roasted guide will help. A medium-to-dark roast is best suited to espresso machines; it will ensure a rich result that has good body, aroma and mouth-feel. Lighter roasts are better for filter coffee, so that you achieve a brighter, livelier beverage. This is because a lighter roast retains the characteristics from its terrior - think fresh, citrusy flavors, and grassy, earthy notes. A dark roast, on the other hand, presents notes such as spice, smokiness or dark chocolate while a medium roast is balanced between the two; toasted, nutty, and fruity.

Water and coffee

If you're looking to really make the most of your brew, use filtered water. We do. All our espresso machines are fitted to ensure we're not doing our coffee injustice by tarnishing its flavor with chlorine or other chemicals present in tap water.

Coffee grind

The right grind is another crucial element for getting the best flavor and will change according to your brewing method. Here's a snapshot of what you should be looking for in terms of consistency, depending on your preferred method. If you're grinding whole beans, only prepare what you need to ensure the freshest coffee every time. We recommend always using freshly ground coffee. You can find out more in our Guide to Freshly Ground Coffee.

What should the ratio of water to coffee be?

Water to coffee ratio

We typically brew 15g of finely ground coffee to 60ml of hot water to brew our espresso. For a single servicing, or 250ml of filter coffee, we recommend 16-18g of medium to coarse ground coffee. But if you're with family or friends, 50g of ground coffee to 1 liter of hot water would be perfect.

Milk Matters

Steaming milk takes time and practise and its important to prepare this to the right consistency. Our Milk Matters video will talk you through to make milk thats suitable and tasty for your latte, cappuccino, or flat white. For an indication of ratio, our quick guide above is a good reference. Always clean your wand after every use.

How to store coffee

Store your coffee in a cool, dry, and dark place and always in a sealed, airtight container. Light, moisture, heat and air are bad news, so avoid the fridge or freezer. Wed also recommend buying your coffee in small quantities so it's always fresh. Ground coffee should be used as soon as possible, but if shared correctly should last 1-2 weeks, while coffee beans should stay fresh for 2 weeks.

Top tips for Brewing Coffee at Home