10 Tips for Barista-Quality Coffee at Home

Great coffee doesn’t just happen—it takes the right tools, and techniques, and a little bit of know-how. That's why we caught up with siblings Jazmin and Christian Medrano, founders of Brew Brew Coffee & Tea in Chicago, to gather expert tips on how to make good coffee at home.*

* As told to Erin Nederbo.

What You'll Need

  • Whole bean coffee
  • Filtered water or water filter
  • Scale
  • Dark-colored ceramic or glass container
  • Coffee grinder
  • Automatic drip coffee maker, French press, or water kettle
  • Coffee filters (depending on brewing method)
  • Your choice of flavoring and toppings (e.g., chocolate pieces, cinnamon, nutmeg)
  • Reddi-wip®
  • Electric milk frother (optional)

  • Tip 1Know Your Coffee Bean
  • Knowing where your coffee comes from is important. Acidity, strength, and flavor are dependent on the growing region the coffee derives from.

    If you’re unsure what type of coffee to start brewing with, Guatemala is a good place to start. Grown in Central America, Guatemalan coffee is complex while still balanced in flavor and medium in roast.
  • A man at a cafe with his computer and Reddiwip topped coffee beverage.
  • Tip 2Buy Whole Bean Coffee
  • When it comes to coffee, it’s OK to splurge. As Jazmin told us, “… if you want a good cup of coffee, you need good coffee beans.” That’s why Jazmin and Christian buy all of the coffee and espresso beans used at Brew Brew from a Chicago-based, small-batch artisan coffee roaster. If you can’t find a local coffee roaster in your area, you can still make high-quality coffee at home by purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding the beans yourself.

    Why whole bean coffee? Compared to ground coffee, whole bean coffee is fresher and more flavorful.
  • Whole roasted coffee beans pouring into a coffee filter.
  • Tip 3Invest in a Scale
  • For better results brewing coffee at home, Jazmin recommends using a scale. Before becoming a barista, Jazmin measured her coffee with a spoon. “It doesn’t taste the same,” she said. She now understands the importance of accurately measuring your coffee. “You need to know how much coffee you’re going to use in order to make the perfect cup.” Having a scale will help you achieve the right strength and balance for you.

    At Brew Brew, baristas measure 180 grams of whole bean coffee per carafe. Each carafe makes 12 8 oz. cups. At home, for a 6-cup, automatic drip coffeemaker, Jazmin recommends measuring out 90 grams of whole bean coffee onto a small, inexpensive scale before grinding and brewing.
  • Roasted coffee beans being weighed on a scale.
  • Tip 4Grind Only What You Need
  • Coffee preparation is important, but don’t grind all your coffee beans at once. Keep your home coffee as fresh as possible by only grinding the amount of coffee beans you plan to use.
  • Ground coffee in a filter.
  • Tip 5Store Coffee in a Ceramic Canister
  • Once opened, coffee needs to be stored in a canister that shields sunlight. According to Jazmin, you should always “store coffee in a dark colored-ceramic or glass container—this keeps the coffee fresher.” It’s also important to avoid freezing your coffee. When you freeze coffee, there’s a chance that it will absorb moisture, which can affect its taste.
  • A ceramic container with Coffee written on the side.
  • Tip 6Use Filtered Water
  • When it comes to brewing coffee—water matters. Brew Brew uses filtered water to make all their coffee and espresso drinks. For the best coffee at home, Jazmin suggests keeping a pitcher of filtered water in the refrigerator and brewing coffee with filtered water that’s heated to between 195°F and 205°F.
  • Tip 7Choose a Brewing Method
  • Not all brewing methods are created equal, and the best way of making coffee at home for you depends on your lifestyle (and taste buds). For an even, mild pot of coffee, an automatic drip coffeemaker is your best bet. Meanwhile, the French press is a great, low-maintenance way to get a bolder, darker brew. But if you’re simply wanting a smooth cup for one, a nice pour-over could do the trick.

    Whatever method you choose, know you’ll have to adjust how coarse you grind your coffee.

    PRO TIP: You can compost any leftover grounds.
  • A French Press coffee maker containing hot brewed coffee.
  • Tip 8Clean Your Coffeemaker Often
  • “Coffee beans have oil,” Jazmin told us. “If you don’t wash your coffee pot—well, then the oil is going to stay. The next day you’re going to brew more coffee and the oil is going to affect the flavor.” That’s why Brew Brew cleans their coffee and espresso machines daily. At home, Jazmin explained, if you don’t clean your coffeemaker often, “… the coffee is going to taste like it’s burnt because of all the oil that’s been left in the pot.”
  • Tip 9Flavor Your Coffee with Spices
  • Brew Brew’s most popular seasonal specialty drink is their Lavender Honey Latte. While Jazmin and Christian wouldn’t reveal the ingredients that went into their best-selling latte, they did provide some tips for flavoring coffee at home without using syrups. The baristas suggested stirring pieces of chocolate into your coffee or topping your coffee drink with whipped topping and ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
  • Tip 10Steam Your Milk
  • Many good coffee recipes include milk, but did you know that you can steam your own milk at home? If lattes and cappuccinos are a morning must-have, Jazmin suggests buying an electric milk frother.

    Learn more about Brew Brew Coffee & Tea.
  • Additional TipTop with Reddi-wip
  • Cold foam and other coffee toppers are all the rage right now, but no one’s really mastered replicating them at home. (Until now!) In just a few shakes, Reddi-wip Cold Foam adds a velvety texture to make your cold brews creamy and your morning lattes quick.

    Ready to become your own barista? With these expert tips and a can of Reddi-wip in your corner, you'll be crafting café-quality coffee at home in no time.