If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to save money, laying off the Starbucks drinks might be a good start.
I’m going to be honest: Quality-wise, Starbucks isn’t that great. When I used to work there, the espresso always tasted sour AF without all the (albeit delicious) sugary syrups and foam we added to it. I also thought that charging an extra dollar for dairy-alternative milk always felt rude somehow. But girl, I get it—there’s just something that hits different about paying the outrageous six bucks for that sweet, sweet capitalist nectar. And when the coffee you brew in your apartment tastes like a bitter sewage disaster, it makes spending your hard-earned money on specialty coffee that much more enticing.
I’m here to tell you there’s another way to enjoy great coffee. Simply by making a few affordable changes to your at-home coffee game, you can have a delicious and energizing morning treat without the hassle and cost of expensive take-out coffee.
- Grind Your Beans often
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Part of the reason you love going to cafés so much is undoubtedly because of the aroma and the freshness of the beans. Mass-producing coffee shops and smaller businesses either have a high volume turnover for their beans or pride themselves in daily fresh-ground coffee. When you’re buying pre-ground bagged espresso or beans from the grocery store, you’re also tasting the stabilizers and paying for semi-stale beans! Get yourself an unground bag of whole beans next time and grind as you go. Trust me—you’ll taste the difference.
TIP: Grind espresso beans for a while, and aim for the consistency of sand. For cold brew and regular coffee, aim for more of a loose gravel-like texture.
- Froth, froth, froth
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My cappuccino lovers will understand this next one. To achieve the perfect leaf motif in your latte or recreate that comforting foam atop your americano misto, you’re going to need a little help. Frothing the milk helps mute the acidity and aggressiveness of the beans and blend the rich and creamy flavours together.
For this, you’ll need either an espresso machine, a handheld frother, or a mason jar. Froth your preferred milk using your preferred method for at least 30 seconds, or until bubbles form at the top. For the best results with the handheld frother or a mason jar, heat the milk up in the microwave for a few seconds at a time before shaking or mixing, but keep an eye on it! The last thing you want to do is scald your milk.
- ADD A LITTLE BIT OF *SPICE*
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My sweet coffee lovers: this one’s for you. The best way to truly enjoy making coffee at home is to make it your own. Go down to your local Starbucks, grocery store, or even just Amazon, and buy your favourite syrups and sauces. Doing so gives you more bang for your buck, leaves you with syrups that last just about forever, and allows you to experiment with different flavour pairings and presentations to snazz up your Instagram stories. A new travel mug or some cute thrifted glassware can also make your at-home barista fantasy come to life. At the end of the day, your morning cup should be a positive experience that makes you want to tackle the day ahead.
Most importantly, when trying to become a better at-home barista, have patience. It’s not going to be perfect on your first go, and you may need to toss out some failed cold-brew attempts now and again, but trust the process—experiment with what works for you in your budget and morning time frame. You don’t need to use a fancy Nespresso or break the bank at Starbucks to have a satisfying cup of joe; you just need patience, good ingredients, and some friendly advice. Happy brewing!