You don't have to go to a café to enjoy a great cup of coffee. With a little knowledge and effort, you can make better coffee at home.

In this article, we'll show you the different ways to brew coffee, how to choose the right one for your lifestyle, the best coffee beans, and how to make incredible coffee every time.

How to Use A Coffee Maker

Making fantastic coffee at home isn't difficult, but there are a few things you need to know before you start. You'll need to familiarise yourself with different types of coffee beans, different grind levels and multi-step coffee making methods. It might seem like a lot more work than ordering a cup from your favorite coffee shop, but the results are worth it.

There are many different types of coffee machines, and each offers something unique.

Drip Coffee Machine

The drip coffee maker is the most common in the United States. Fill the reservoir with water, put a paper filter in the basket, add ground coffee and let the machine do the rest.

The coffee machine heats the water and drips it onto the ground coffee. After 5-10 minutes, a full cup of hot fresh coffee is ready.

There are many types of drip coffee machines, from high-tech to minimalist. It is important to consider the features of each machine when buying. For example, some can be pre-prepared and programmed to brew coffee at a set time. Others have a built-in coffee grinder or accept coffee capsules.

 Pro Tip: Although this method is fairly standard, making coffee can be, well, simple. Use good quality coffee beans and make sure the coffee-to-water ratio is right - if the coffee is too weak, it won't taste good.

Drip Coffee Specifications

Grind: medium

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Recommended coffee: Coffee: DaLat

Recommended drink: Hot with homemade cream.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. Place a paper filter in the basket and fill the water container with filtered water to the fill line.

2. Measure out 14 grams of coffee beans per serving.

3. Grind the coffee coarsely should have the same consistency as sea salt.

4. Place the coffee in the filter, turn on the coffee maker, and wait for the coffee to brew.

Pour-Over Unit

A pour-over machine works in a similar way to a drip coffee machine, but is preferred by many people because it gives them more control over the coffee brewing result. Of course, this can be both good and bad. It takes some practice and experimentation to get it right. But once you understand the process, you can develop it to perfection.

In theory, it's a simple process - just put a filter in the machine and fill it with ground coffee. Place it in a cup and slowly pour water over the coffee grounds. The trick is that you control the variables that make or break the cup of coffee: the coffee to water ratio, the size of the ground coffee, the brewing time, the brewing temperature and the agitation. Experiment with each of these and see how the changes affect the final cup.

When buying brewed coffee, consider the shape and material. Tapered ones give a better taste, but flat-bottomed pour-over coffee cups are easier to use (no need to just pour out the water!). There are plastic, ceramic, steel, and glass - and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Pro Tip: First, boil some hot water over the coffee grounds to remove the gases. Then add the rest of the water.

Pour-Over Machine

Grind size: medium

Brewing time: 4 min.

Recommended coffee: Kismile 

Recommended drink: Warm with a little cream.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. Place a paper filter in the coffee maker. Add a little hot water to wet the filter and remove excess water running into the glass/cup.

2. Measure 15 g of coffee beans per serving for a Chemex machine or 25 g of coffee beans for a Hario V60 machine.

3. Grind the coffee coarsely - it should have the same consistency as sea salt.

4. Place the coffee in the filter and moisten it with a small amount of filtered hot water.

5. Wait 45 seconds and slowly add the remaining water in a gentle circular motion.

French Press

French press coffee makers, also known as piston coffee makers or press coffee makers, use an immersion method to produce a smooth and balanced cup of coffee.

Place the ground coffee and hot water in the French press and wait 4-5 minutes for the coffee to brew. Then slowly press the plunger to filter the coffee, pour it out, and enjoy.

Cold brew coffee can also be prepared in a French press coffee maker, which increases its usefulness.

French-style coffee machines come in a variety of sizes, although larger ones are more versatile as they can brew smaller quantities of coffee. They are usually made of glass, but can also be made of metal or clay. From personal experience, I would recommend the metal ones (glass ones break very easily), but glass ones are less likely to retain the flavors and aromas of previous brews.

Pro Tip: take advantage of the method's ability to extract complex flavors using delicious, quality beans. Set a timer to avoid taking too long for the coffee to brew, as it will take too long to brew and develop a bitter taste.

French Press Machine

Grinding size: 

4 min.

Recommended beverage: Cold coffee or hot black coffee

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. Measure about 17 g of coffee beans per serving; the exact amount depends on the size of the press.

2. Grind the coffee in coarse pieces; it should have the same texture as sea salt.

3. Pour the coffee into the bottom of the French press and cover it with filtered water. 

4. Pull the plunger completely out of the lid of the French press and place it on the glass.

5. Allow the coffee to brew for four minutes before pressing the plunger to filter the coffee.

Espresso machine

You don't have to go to a coffee shop to enjoy a good espresso: you can make it yourself at home!

With an espresso machine, you put ground coffee in the filter and squeeze it out. Then you put it in the espresso machine and wait for the hot water to run through the coffee beans. With multiple shots of espresso coffee, you have a wide range of options for your coffee drinks.

Some machines come with a steam and frothing wand, which is almost essential. You can buy smaller coffee machines that require you to add the right amount of water each time, or larger coffee machines with built-in water reservoirs that measure for you. You can buy them as expensive or as luxurious as you like, but the most important thing is to buy a good brand that delivers a consistent and quality result.

Pro Tip: There is a theory that espresso coffee expires after ten seconds, but this has been largely disproved. However, according to New Grounds, science shows that it becomes thinner after three minutes and bitter after ten. So while you don't have to drink it, don't let it linger too long.

Espresso Machine Specifications:

grind: minute

Preparation time: 1 minute

Coffee is on offer.

Recommended beverage: Coffee drink: short, Americano

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1. Turn on the espresso machine and wait for it to heat up, which can take up to 30 minutes.

2. Calculate 9 grams of coffee beans for a single coffee or 18 grams for a double coffee.

3. Grind the coffee very finely: it should have the consistency of sand.

4. Empty the coffee into the filter bag and grind it evenly.

5. Lock the filter holder in the machine and prepare the coffee within 25-30 seconds.

How To Cleaning & Maintaining Your Coffee Maker

To make your coffee machine last longer and keep the coffee tasty, you need to clean it regularly. Cleaning your coffee machine is quicker and easier than you think and will help to extend the life of your coffee machine. It's also very important for your health - frequent failure to clean coffee machines can lead to the growth of bacteria and mould.

Empty your coffee machine or espresso machine to clean the inside and remove unwanted mineral and oil deposits. This only needs to be done once every few months and only takes about half an hour, so it is not a big problem.

To keep your coffee machine looking like new, wash the removable parts daily. Clean the pitcher, filter basket, armrest, and shower head by hand in warm soapy water and leave to dry.

Tips For Making Coffee With A Coffee Machine

Making great coffee at home is an art. To become a master coffee maker and make incredible coffee every time, follow our expert tips:

1. Always use fresh coffee beans - to be sure you're using coffee beans worth using, check their expiry date and store them properly.

2. Grind your coffee - grind your coffee beans before you make your coffee. 

3. Use the right grinding method - Coffee that is ground too finely will result in bitter coffee, and coffee that is ground too coarsely will result in tasteless coffee.

4. Use filtered water - Water is one of the two main ingredients in coffee, so for best results you need the best filtered water.

5. Prepare coffee at the right temperature - Check the recommended temperature on the bean packaging and adjust the settings on your coffee machine for the best results.

6. Experiment with different beans - Explore an exciting world of speciality beans until you find your favourite drink.

7. Use the right coffee-to-water ratio - Follow the manufacturer's instructions to set the right coffee-to-water ratio and experiment until you get the perfect result.

How To Choose A Coffee Machine

A coffee machine will become part of your daily routine, so it's important to get the right one. 

Here are some important aspects to consider when choosing a coffee machine:

1. What type of coffee preparation suits your daily routine and preferences? How do you like your coffee and how much time are you prepared to spend on it?

2. Coffee brewing size - Do you prefer to brew a single cup of coffee or do you prefer to brew larger quantities? Some coffee machines can do both.

3. Coffee machine size - You need to make sure that the coffee machine you choose fits in the space allotted to it. Some coffee machines can be surprisingly large!

4. Time options - Do you want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee? Some machines have a built-in timer so you can make coffee before you get out of bed.

5. Some coffee machines have a built-in grinder that grinds the coffee beans before brewing. This is a great feature if you want to be hands-free.

6. Additional features - some smart coffee machines come with lots of interesting 7.

7. Extra features: audible alerts, automatic brew cycles, hot coffee storage options, brew size adjustment, flexible water temperature, etc.