Gotten into the habit of getting your “gourmet coffee” at any of those boutique coffee shop chains?  We’ll they’re costing you more than you think!  You hassle with parking, stand in line, pay for the high retail overhead, pay for the ambience…oh, and don’t forget the tip.  And should you get your java ‘To-Go’, well you’ve just bypassed the whole ambience thing.

The alternative of course is to make it yourself.  But why bother with planning and clean-up when the coffee never turns out as good as it should?  Do not despair caf้ connoisseurs!  Nowadays just about every major supermarket offers an array of gourmet coffee beans at much, much less than you’d pay at one of those specialty coffee houses.  Plus, you can create your own special blend – ผ Italian Roast, ผ Sumatra, ผ Colombian, and ผ Vanilla Hazelnut.

As a barista, you’ll need two important appliances in your kitchen arsenal.  First is a simple coffee grinder. Remember: The fresher the grind, the better the flavor – so grind up only enough for a few days.  Some like to store the remaining whole beans in the freezer to preserve their freshness.

Second, perhaps the most over utilized / under appreciated appliance – the coffee maker itself.  The two most important features to look for are a programmable timer and an Auto-Shut Off.  Opt for a permanent type mesh ‘cone’ type filter – you never be surprised by running out of filters when you really need that cup o’ joe.  Most important is the heating temperature of the unit.  195บ to 205บ Fahrenheit is optimum. This temperature extracts the fullest flavor of the coffee. This may mean buying a higher end unit – but when you consider your savings from ordering that ฝ caf-1/2 decaf, double latte with non-fat milk – you’ll be way ahead.

Gotten into the habit of getting your “gourmet coffee” at any of those boutique coffee shop chains?  We’ll they’re costing you more than you think!  You hassle with parking, stand in line, pay for the high retail overhead, pay for the ambience…oh, and don’t forget the tip.  And should you get your java ‘To-Go’, well you’ve just bypassed the whole ambience thing.

The alternative of course is to make it yourself.  But why bother with planning and clean-up when the coffee never turns out as good as it should?  Do not despair caf้ connoisseurs!  Nowadays just about every major supermarket offers an array of gourmet coffee beans at much, much less than you’d pay at one of those specialty coffee houses.  Plus, you can create your own special blend – ผ Italian Roast, ผ Sumatra, ผ Colombian, and ผ Vanilla Hazelnut.

As a barista, you’ll need two important appliances in your kitchen arsenal.  First is a simple coffee grinder. Remember: The fresher the grind, the better the flavor – so grind up only enough for a few days.  Some like to store the remaining whole beans in the freezer to preserve their freshness.

Second, perhaps the most over utilized / under appreciated appliance – the coffee maker itself.  The two most important features to look for are a programmable timer and an Auto-Shut Off.  Opt for a permanent type mesh ‘cone’ type filter – you never be surprised by running out of filters when you really need that cup o’ joe.  Most important is the heating temperature of the unit.  195บ to 205บ Fahrenheit is optimum. This temperature extracts the fullest flavor of the coffee. This may mean buying a higher end unit – but when you consider your savings from ordering that ฝ caf-1/2 decaf, double latte with non-fat milk – you’ll be way ahead.