Can you imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee? Neither can we. As we deal with meetings (IRL or zoom), load shedding, water shedding, petrol prices, exercising, self-love, just general worries – the lure and comfort of a warm mug has reached essential status. Locally, sales skyrocketed with more and more consumers wanting to zhoosh up their at-home coffee experiences. You know what type of coffee you like to order (hey, it’s personal!), but to help you make one better than your local kwoffee shop we got perk-up pointers ahead of the most popular coffee brews.
1. Filter Coffee
Ratio is key when making classic drip. Lusayo Mpande, senior barista at Sharon’s Café in trendy Woodstock, Cape Town, helps you master any mug . What this means: Add 7.5g coffee and heat around 125ml water per cup. Heat to 86°C-90°C. Pour 60-80ml water evenly over your coffee. Wait 30 secs for the coffee to inflate. Pour the rest of the water using the same circular motion. Total infusion time should not exceed 4 mins.
2. French Press
Lusayo Mpande says add 7-8g coffee to the pot. Pour 200ml hot water (the water temp should be juuust below boiling to extract the best flavour). Wait 3-4 minutes before plunging slowly. Overachiever? Use a timer. Add ground beans to the bottom of the press, then hot water. Stir at 30 sec, 1 min 30 sec, and 2 min 30 sec. Reattach lid after each swirl. At 3 min 30 sec, plunge and serve. Perfection.
3. Instant Coffee
Coffee companies are upgrading this once – bland buys you can sip on the go – or really, whenever you need a fix. But how do you make a good instant cup? To begin with, we suggest pre-heating your cup with boiling water to ensure your coffee stays warmer for longer. For the perfect flavour: a ratio of 2g (roughly one heaped teaspoon) of instant coffee granules for every 200ml of hot water. How hot should the water be? Like French pressing, water needs to be at not boiling temperature to ensure it doesn’t burn the granules. Try boiling the kettle and waiting a minute for it to cool, or you can cut the boil short by turning the kettle off just before it starts bubbling.
READ MORE: How Much Coffee Is Too Much Coffee? Here’s What Experts And Studies Say
BEST COFFEE MAKERS
There are so many on the market right now. And whether you’re looking for coffee at the touch of a button or want to try something barista-like, we’ve pinpointed our faves right now and how they work.
BREVILLE AROMA STYLE COFFEE
This coffee maker allows you to make a fresh brew automatically. We mean that you can pre-programme your machine so that you can wake up to a fresh brew in the morning. Score!
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Brews 12 cups of hot coffee in 10 minutes
- You can program it to automatically brew coffee at a later time within a 24-hour period.
- BPA-free materials and dishwasher-safe parts
BODUM POUR-OVER COFFEE MAKER
We are all about pretty things.. and this maker is just giving that. Looks aside, this innovative, fuss-free filter coffee maker is simple to use and gives you control over your cup of coffee. All you need is filter coffee grounds, hot water, four minutes and a little Bodum magic.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Comes with a permanent filter – which means saving money on those filters.
- The glass is made from non-porous material that doesn’t absorb taste or aroma
- Our inner lazy-girl love that it is easy to use and easy to clean
BODUM CHAMBORD FRENCH PRESS
Like all Bodum French press coffee makers, the Chambord is made with hardened borosilicate glass which is dishwasher safe. Plus it can keep your coffee warmer for longer.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- It’s dishwasher safe – score!
- Available in four different sizes
- Has a chrome-plated steel frame and lid – fancy!
NESPRESSO CITIZ W/MILK BLACK BUNDLE
Okay, okay, this one is a bit pricey. But hear us out. Citiz coffee machine is designed to appeal to both Nespresso lovers and fans of modern design. It’s a fusion of the latest technology and retro-modern design.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- This coffee maker has an aeroccino, which helps you create milk-based coffee recipes at the touch of a button
- It’s compact and aesthetic AF
- Comes with an assortment of 14 Nespresso capsules
READ MORE: Cold Brew Vs Iced Coffee: What’s The Difference?
COPPER BRASS STOVETOP COFFEE POT
This pot is for coffee drinkers who like strong coffee that’s quick and easy to make. These particular pots are handmade in Greece. The body features a traditional copper, hammered finish with an engraved design for extra traditional flare; the handle is made of brass.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- You can make it extra tasty by adding spices during brewing
- We love how this is an all-rounder… it can heat other liquids
- You can store this baby easily
MAGEFESA KENIA NOIR COFFEE MAKER
This is a stovetop coffee maker that produces a dark brew that’s comparable to espresso. You can use freshly ground beans which are steamed via the built-in chimney system to deliver the perfect pot.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- No need for an oven mitt – it has cool touch handles
- With this guy, your cuppa brews relatively quickly
- It’s a dream when you don’t have to buy filters – this maker doesn’t require any
Cold Brew Coffee Maker
You only need to pour coffee granules and ice cubes, leaving the rest of the time. This machine has an adjustable dripper that enables accurate control of the speed of ice water drops so you can control the time and the flavour according to your preference.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Zero expertise to make your own cold coffee.
- Stainless steel strainer is easy to clean
- Has an adjustable knob to help with water flow
Source: https://www.womenshealthsa.co.za/food-and-nutrition/feed/
