5 secrets to making specialty coffee at home that’s as good as it is in a shop

Great finished products are always made from good ingredients. Therefore, a delicious cup of coffee cannot lack the presence of quality coffee beans. Especially when making specialty coffee at home, the cup of coffee will be affected by many external factors such as machinery, time, technique, etc. Choosing high quality coffee becomes even more important. important. It is best to use pure, specialty coffee grown at altitudes above 1,200 msl that is sustainably farmed. On these farms, coffee has natural sugar content and diverse and rich organic acids and aromatic compounds. When extracted, coffee will have a delicate acidity, delicate sweetness and characteristic, pleasant aromas. In addition, coffee beans must not be moldy or lose their freshness. Oxidized coffee often smells old like paper, bread hinders the aroma.

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Even though using the Shot (machine brewing) or Filter (filtering with filter paper) brewing methods, water is still the main ingredient, accounting for 90% - 98% of a cup of coffee. The quality of water used can enhance or reduce its deliciousness. Because it looks transparent, the water's composition includes trace minerals and chemicals such as Chlorine, Fe, Ca, Mg,...or cations and other microorganisms. These substances can affect the reactions in coffee, creating new compounds that change the inherent flavor. If the water has high hardness (contains a lot of Mg, Ca), when heated, the cations will crystallize, blocking the flow, corroding and creating some unpleasant tastes. But when the water is too soft ( CaCO3 hardness below 30ppm) , the coffee will lose its richness. Therefore, experts recommend that using water with a hardness of 50 - 80 ppm is best for a cup of espresso.

Additionally, water with a high pH positively impacts flavor extraction. In studies, water at high altitudes leads to gas formation. This increases extraction time due to the neutralization of alkaline water and acidic water compounds, forming more CO2 than normal. Furthermore, at around pH 7.7 coffee will have a stronger vanilla flavor. However, a pH that is too high will cause an imbalance in flavor reactions, releasing some, making the flavor harsh and difficult to drink. Therefore, it is best to use water with a pH of 7 to 8.5 to have a cup of specialty coffee at home that is as delicious as the one in the shop.

Not using enough or the right amount of coffee is one of the reasons that results in coffee having a different taste after each brew. Overestimating the amount of ground coffee will result in inconsistent flavor. Because when brewing at home or just starting out, it is difficult to determine the appropriate amount of coffee and water. The best way to do this is to measure the amount accurately and divide it into equal portions. Then, you can experiment for yourself, adjust the appropriate amount of water to come up with a recipe according to your own preferences. You can also use scales and measure coffee grounds to calculate and adjust the amount of water to best suit your taste while balancing the flavor of the coffee.

You can refer to some of the following quantities:

- With filter coffee, the coffee to water ratio is 1:17 (or 1:15, 1:18) which will require 10 -15 g of ground coffee.

- With cold brew, 1 cup of coffee will taste best when following a 1:8 ratio and about 10g of coffee.

- If measuring the amount of coffee grounds to use when making a double cup of espresso, you should brew 18-21 grams of coffee to make a great tasting double cup of coffee.

Water will flow slower through finely ground coffee and faster through coarser ground coffee. When ground finely, the coffee powder is smaller, the coffee layer has very few gaps. The flow can penetrate and touch the entire layer of powder, carrying away more compounds, making the coffee richer. When grinding coarsely, large fragments and coffee have many holes, leading to faster coffee flow. At that time, the extracted coffee has a lighter color, brighter and clearer taste. Depending on the brewing method, type of coffee and enjoyment needs, you can choose different grind levels.

If you make coffee with an espresso machine, choose a fine grind. Finely ground coffee needs to extract a lot in a short amount of time because the water doesn't pass through the coffee very quickly. The espresso coffee maker has a pressurized water system that pumps out a small amount of water in a short time to help you finish the product in less than 1 minute.

If you brew Pour Over (V60, Kalita Wave), Cafetiere (French Press), choose coarse grind mode. Because all of these methods have slower incubation times. The ground coffee is dormant for most of this brewing process. Therefore, a coarse grind will ensure you have a delicious cup of coffee.

Coffee contains a lot of sugar, acid as well as natural oils and other compounds. During the extraction process, compounds are separated from the seeds. At the same time, the temperature of the water will promote chemical reactions that create flavor and speed up the time it takes to dissolve coffee compounds in water. High temperatures and long incubation times will greatly affect the flavor of coffee after extraction.

With low temperatures, the reactions take place more slowly, causing the coffee to have a light, light taste and thin body. If the water is too cold, the coffee will need a long time to develop its full flavor and concentration. On the contrary, if the water is too hot, the coffee will burn and be bitter. Hot water will dissolve too much fat and other substances in coffee, causing a harsh cup of coffee. Furthermore, hot water will evaporate some of the coffee's aroma, causing you to lose the wonderful experience of the coffee smell. Therefore, to get the best cup of coffee, you should use water with a moderate temperature, about 90 to 96 degrees Celsius. This temperature will help you extract the flavor and aroma substances of coffee. effective and balanced coffee. You will get a cup of coffee with a sweet, delicate, rich taste and seductive aroma. This is a way to make coffee that is loved and recommended by many people.

Above are 5 secrets to making specialty coffee at home that are as delicious as those in the shop that you can apply. Hopefully, this article will help you get delicious and attractive cups of specialty coffee.

In addition, you can visit XLIII Coffee to experience specialty coffees and choose flavors that suit your preferences.

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