Making the perfect cup of coffee

It all began when I first tried a cappuccino at Starbucks years ago. I hated it at first because I didn't know what it was, but I wanted to try it. But I powered through the whole cup because I didn't want to just throw it away. After getting used to the dark espresso flavor, I realized it wasn't that bad. I had been used to flavored drinks so having a true espresso drink was way different. I started experimenting with other drinks and learning what they actually are and how to make them.

My first purchase was a French Press (besides owning a Keurig 2.0). You can get a basic French Press for ~$20. I started by buying a bag of ground beans from Starbucks. To be fair, I didn't know the benefit of buying fresh local beans from a farmer's market until later. Making just a normal cup of black coffee using a French Press is so easy. If I just want one cup, I'll do one scoop of coffee (two if I want to be awake all day) mixed with one cup of hot water. I let it steep for about four minutes, press, then pour and enjoy the dark flavor. If you aren't a fan of hot coffee, the French Press is great for making cold brew. Cold brew is coffee that is steeped in the fridge for 16-24 hours. My ratio is about three scoops of ground beans and four cups of water. The next day it's ready and I have a perfect iced drink.

My next purchase was a Moka pot. More specifically, a Bialetti stovetop espresso maker. This is my favorite morning routine ever. For those that don't know, a Moka pot can be used to make espresso without the use of a very expensive espresso machine. Moka pots are also on the cheap side around $20-$30. This makes it really easy to make a small espresso for that extra boost, mix it with a coffee from the French Press to make a Red-Eye, or start making latte's and cappuccinos on the cheaper side. These drinks typically take around 10 minutes just because I keep the stove on medium so it doesn't make the espresso too bitter.

Now that I have all the tools, I started to experiment with making latte's and cappuccinos without the expensive equipment a college student can't afford. Latte's and cappuccinos vary based on the ratio of espresso to milk you want and how much foam you like. For me, I will typically make a cappuccino which requires 2/3 espresso to 1/3 steamed milk. Once the espresso is ready, I pour that into a mug, heat up the milk in the microwave for about 40 seconds, then use my Aerolatte milk frother to stir the milk and foam about half of it. Once that's done, I pour it over the espresso and enjoy.
I'm still practicing with other measurements to get the perfect flavor.

I'd recommend going to a local coffee bar and trying some of their drinks as they tend to be lower priced and personally taste better than a corporate chain. I'm not bashing Starbucks, I still enjoy going there, but I enjoy the environment more of a local coffee bar. Makes for a perfect date with my girlfriend. Back home, I love Brew Cary. They have unique drinks and they're nitro cold brew is amazing.