For many of us, coffee is the very first thing we drink in the morning. And while some may not attach so much importance to the quality or health benefits of their dark beverage, others put immense effort into creating the perfect cup of joe to get us going.
There are many different ways to ensure you never have to drink a bland cup of coffee again, from adding ingredients like cinnamon and protein powder to purchasing high-quality beans and frothing your own milk. You can even experiment with buying new coffee-making equipment (like a new frother, coffee grinder, or coffee pot), try other brewing techniques, or invest in special cups or standard custom coffee sleeves for an improved experience.
If you want to upgrade your morning coffee, you’ve come to the right place. Here are my top tips for brewing the perfect cup of coffee:
Add ingredients
Adding ingredients can make your morning cup more flavourful or mask the characteristic bitter taste of coffee.
Depending on what you’re looking for, you can try some of the following ingredients:
- Cinnamon — Cinnamon can bring out the sweetness in your coffee, and it also adds a bit of spice to your morning brew.
- Chocolate — Chocolate is another ingredient that will enhance the taste of your coffee. And chocolate powder mixed with cinnamon is even better!
- Coconut oil — Coconut oil is great for adding a subtle coconut flavour to your coffee. You can even mix coconut oil with coconut milk and other ingredients to create your own homemade frappuccino.
- Butter or ghee — Butter or ghee is an excellent way to make your coffee more creamy. It’s also delicious when melted into hot cocoa or used in homemade doughnuts!
- Orange juice — Orange juice is another ingredient you can use to give your coffee a fruity taste (and it pairs well with cinnamon).
- Protein powder — Protein powder can be added to coffee for a protein boost and a thicker consistency.
- Honey — Honey can be added to your coffee for a sweeter taste — and some people believe it’s helpful in dealing with allergies too!
Buy high-quality beans
You can never go far wrong if you’re buying high-quality beans, but there are some quality brands you might want to consider over others:
- Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee — Blue Mountain Coffee is one of the best-known specialty roasters in the world, and their beans are available online and in stores throughout the United States and Canada. The beans come from the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, where coffee was first introduced in the first half of the 18th Century. They’re shipped to various roasting facilities around the world, before reaching their customers. They provide everything from dark roast to medium roasts, and they also offer flavoured beans like mocha and vanilla. Their coffee beans are some of the most expensive in the world, but they’re worth every penny!
- Café Bustelo — Café Bustelo is a Cuban coffee brand popular in New York City and across the United States. They roast their beans using a special process that creates a medium-dark roast, perfect for iced coffee or espresso drinks. If you’re looking for a darker roast, try Café Bustelo Dark Roast.
- Koffee Kult — Koffee Kult produces award-winning coffee blends that are only available online, but they’re well worth ordering if you want truly delicious coffee! They source their beans exclusively from growers who grow them without any pesticides or herbicides, and they offer several award-winning flavours (all of which are almost entirely organic). A popular blend is Guatemala Huehuetenango, which provides an intensely rich flavor.
Brew coffee with a French press
If you’ve never used a French press before, I highly recommend giving it a try — it’s relatively affordable, easy to use and produces an aromatic cup of coffee every time!
To use a French press, simply grind your coffee beans as fine as possible, stopping when they’re just a little courser than powder. You can use a burr grinder for this. Fill your French press with hot water and stir your coffee grounds into it for 30 seconds. Pour the grounds into the press and cover. After four minutes or so, press down and release the coffee and grounds into a container. Serve and enjoy!
Froth your own milk
Frothing your milk is another way to upgrade your morning brew — and it’s particularly beneficial because it gives you control over what kind of milk you use (i.e. whole milk vs. low-fat). There are two common ways you can froth your own milk:
a) Handheld milk frother — If you’re looking for a low-cost option, try using a handheld milk frother. This device is small and inexpensive, making it a great choice if you only make coffee for yourself or don’t drink a lot of this dark beverage. I started off with one of these before treating myself to a coffee machine.
b) Milk frothing jug — A milk frothing jug is another option that’s just as easy to use as a handheld frother. Simply pour your milk into the jug and whisk it with a wire whisk.
If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your morning brew, you don’t necessarily need to go out and buy a new coffee maker. Simply adding ingredients like cinnamon or chocolate powder can make a big difference to the taste of your coffee, and it’s easy to do too. You can also buy high-quality beans or buy a frothing pitcher and milk frother to create your own cappuccino at home!
Any of the methods we discussed here will help you achieve a great cup of coffee — so why not give them a try? Feel free to share any other tips you may have for brewing the perfect cup of coffee in the comment box below.