There are so many exceptionally good cafes in the UK now that we have all become accustomed to drinking the best coffee. There are now very few towns that don’t have cafe where you can have an espresso or cappuccino created by an expert Barista if you know where to look. The negative aspect of this is that we are now totally unsatisfied whenever we return home and have nothing to drink except the jar of freeze-dried “coffee” lying in the cupboard.

The solution to this problem is reasonably simple, we need to buy ourselves a the best small coffee maker we can find that will compare to those used on commercial premises. Thankfully there are now plenty of these machines available from retailers in the UK although you’ll need to be careful and do a little research to ensure you get something worthwhile. In addition you’ll want to get a coffee grinder to go with your machine to get the most from it.

You might be asking if a coffee grinder is absolutely essential but anyone who has ever had one at their disposal when making coffee will know the best grinders are worth every penny of the outlay. If you want to make the finest cup of coffee possible from the beans you have available its essential you grind them yourself. Only in this way will you experience the best possible flavour from your coffee beans.

Ground coffee beans which are left to sit before use will quickly start to lose their flavour which is why it is false economy to purchase freshly ground coffee from a local retailer rather than buy an expensive grinder. By the time you get round to using the ground coffee it will never taste as good as it should. Of course if you must resort to buying your coffee ready ground then buy in small quantities and often and learn to store it to hold on to as much freshness as possible.

So if you are serious about your coffee you’ll realise how important it is to get your hands on a high quality coffee grinder and be willing to make the financial sacrifices to get one which does justice to your coffee beans. The question is which type, and more importantly, which particular model of coffee grinder is it worth spending your hard earned cash on?

A Barista who takes great pride in the quality of coffee he creates will probably have years of experience working in a commercial environment and making hundreds of coffees every day. To be able to compete with this and learn how to make the perfect cup of coffee at home is going to be a challenge.

How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee At Home

If you are the type of person who loves coffee and doesn’t like to  settle for the second best of anything in life then you are a perfect candidate to learn who to make the perfect cup of coffee. Be warned though that the journey to coffee perfection is a long and arduous one which only the toughest will survive.

What Equipment Do I Need To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee?

They say that a bad workman blames his tools but in the case of coffee making the quality of the tools is crucial. A good workman with bad tools will never produce a cup of coffee to make his mamma proud.

The Coffee Beans

Yes coffee beans, don’t even think about buying you coffee ready ground if you’re going to pretend you are a Barista in the making. The fresher your coffee beans the better the final product will taste. There are companies in the UK who will dispatch coffee to you on the day it is roasted, they’re worth tracking down if you are going for perfection.

If you can’t get freshly roasted “boutique” coffee then there are plenty of brands in the beans out there which will do a great job. At the end of the day the beans you choose to use on a regular basis is down to personal taste and most coffee roasters these days produce roasted coffee beans which are of a perfectly acceptable standard.

In my opinion as long as you choose a coffee bean from a respectable roaster then the skill of the Barista, the coffee machine and the coffee grinder are more important to achieving an outstanding espresso than the beans you choose.

The Espresso Coffee Machine

Buying an espresso coffee machine these days can be a bewildering experience which such a large number of different models and manufacturers. There are plenty of machines that will do an acceptable job if your only looking for “acceptable” coffee, but if your after the best of the best your really going to have to splash out on something special.

It takes a lot of pressure to create a great cup of coffee and unfortunately the cheaper electric coffee makers just don’t have the power to give your that awesome espresso taste your looking for. Semi-commercial machines are a great way to make coffee if you’re looking for the best. Something like the Bezzera BZ35 or BZ40 are so close to delivering coffee shop coffee that you won’t notice a difference. They are pretty expensive but a Bezzera espresso machine will make  you the envy of all your coffee drinking friends when they get a taste of your coffee creations.

If you aren’t willing to stretch that far then there are always Gaggia machines to fall back on. Gaggia machines ooze style and beauty so will look great in your kitchen. At the same time can deliver great espresso coffee if you know how to use it. Priced at under £300 in the UK for a Gaggia Classic, you really can’t go wrong.

Check out reviews from knowledgeable Baristas before making a final decision on a coffee maker, remember that you are spending a fair bit of money and the machine you buy will have to last you for many years so its worth getting it right.

The Coffee Grinder

My favourite part of the whole process of making the perfect coffee if grinding up my beans. Maybe its the aromas which are released in the process, maybe its the smooth feel of the uniform fine grains when I rub them between my fingers or it could just be the anticipation of another great coffee on the way. There’s a lot be said for the ritualistic aspects of creating a great coffee.

Many people overlook the importance of an espresso coffee grinder in the whole process but without a high quality burr coffee grinder you are setting yourself up for coffee maker’s disappointment. Do much research into your grinding machine as you would for the espresso maker to ensure you get a machine that grinds coffee consistently and without burning the grains.

If money is no object or you just want to show off how cool you are to your friends then you’ve got to get yourself a Mazzer coffee grinder. Mazzer build coffee grinders of supreme quality which will deliver you the absolute finest ground coffee ever. They are also built so well they will last you for years and at the price they sell for you’ll be glad you never have to buy another one. Pick up a Mazzer Super Jolly Coffee Grinder for around £500 in the UK.

Your Barista Coffee Making Skills

Unfortunately I can’t teach how to make perfect coffee in this article. The best way to learn how to make a perfect coffee is to get a lesson from someone you know who is a master of the craft.

Make sure whoever teaches you actually knows what they are doing, there are many so called Baristas out there who think they are experts but are actually clueless when it comes to making great coffee. Ideally you’ll find someone who has been properly trained as a Barista and has many years experience behind an espresso coffee machine.