5 Ways to Raise Your Coffee Game

In today’s mile-a-minute world, getting your daily dose of caffeine through coffee is something most of us depend on. Sure, any old cup of Joe will keep you buzzing, but if you want to savor the flavor, it is time to get more serious about what’s in your coffee mug. Here are some of the ways to really love your coffee.

Five Changes You Can Make to Transform Your Coffee Drinking Totally

Number 1: Say Goodbye to Convenience

Everyone loves how easy it is easy to use a pod coffee maker or instant coffee, but they require you to give up too much on taste, so if you don’t already have an alternative way to brew coffee, get one. Never feel you have to jump directly to a manual pour-over or another trendy brewing method. An automatic pour-over machine works perfectly well and can deliver fabulous coffee.

Number 2: Clean Your Coffee Maker

For those who already use another coffee brewing method, when was the last time you cleaned it? We are talking about an actual deep cleaning where you clean the machine inside and out. For the best results, you should run a few cycles of a detergent made for coffee machines or a 50-50 mix of water and white vinegar every two weeks. However, if that seems a little obsessive, at least do it once every month. It isn’t difficult, and believe it or not; you will notice a huge difference.  

Number 3: Buy a Grinder

If you are not already buying whole beans and grinding them moments before making coffee, you need to be. Within minutes of grinding beans, the quality starts to go down. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent grinder, but it is worth paying 20 or 30 bucks to pick up a conical burr instead of a cheaper blade grinder that is much less effective. 

Number 4: Use Better Water

Water makes up the bulk of any cup of coffee, so it is no surprise that using better water for brewing will result in better flavor. Even if you regularly drink the water from your faucet, your coffee will benefit from filtering the water. If you prefer, you can use spring water, but distilled or reverse osmosis water aren’t good choices. Ultrapure water doesn’t have the minerals that keep the coffee from tasting flat and tends to over-extract the grounds, making the coffee very bitter. 

Number 5: Make Coffee a Daily Ritual

When you turn your coffee-drinking habit into more of a ritual setting, you learn to appreciate it more and really begin to savory the flavors. Set aside 15 to 20 minutes as ‘sacred coffee time’ by getting rid of any distractions. It is easy to turn everything from the brewing process to sipping into a meditation that can clear your mind and set you up for a great day. 

While these hints may not turn you into a third-wave barista, they will definitely improve your coffee0drinking experience.