If there was a nation made up entirely of coffee lovers, iSEE Brisbane West’s, Maddie Walsh, would be their QWEEN. Passionate about a good cup of coffee, Maddie has not only revolutionized the Brisbane West locations’s cafe but has also trained and implemented best coffee practices across other locations. Her heart for the house, and a great coffee, is all packaged up in the most bubbly and loving women of God, whose laugh is just as infectious as her passion for all things coffee. Maddie uses her 6 years of barista experience, to share the tips and tricks of the trade for that perfect at home brew.
If you’ve ever talked to me for more than 5 minutes, it’s pretty clear, I am super passionate about coffee. Coffee brings people together. Whether that is at your local cafe, church or in the comfort of your own home, coffee is a great way to connect with others as well as giving you an awesome kickstart to your day.
But endeavouring to make coffee at home can sometimes be intimidating with a huge range of machines to pick from, fancy equipment and methods to create the best coffee. I want to share 5 tips to help you make your coffee at home the best experience!
1. A clean station is a good station.
Your machine should be cleaned as frequently as you clean your dishes. When coffee builds up in your machine or equipment it can start to create a bitter taste. To avoid this, you want to make sure that at the end of each day you are cleaning everything ready for the following day. If you have a coffee machine, make sure you are using your expresso machine cleaner and follow the instructions on the back of the machine. It can also be helpful to jump on good old doctor Google as further steps to follow could be available online. If you are using a different kind of method like cold drip, moka pot or a French press then separate each part for a good wash and make sure it’s 100% dry before putting it back together. The less moisture the better!
2. Show your beans some love.
Storing beans is key to keeping them fresher for longer. Store your beans in a airtight container, because the more air and moisture the beans are exposed to, the quicker they lose their quality and longevity. A good tip to remember is to treat your beans like you treat your indoor plants, keep away from the sun and in a dry environment (but also - don’t water them).
3. Everyone is different
We all have our favourite coffees and our preferred method of creating them at home. And with so many options of machines available, there is something for all skills levels. Do what works for you Queen but remember, every machine needs a different kind of grind setting and knowing which one is best for your coffee and machine is key. If you are trying to figure out the difference between a coarse and a fine grind, check out your local cafe or supplier and ask questions! If you can explain what type of machine and equipment you have, then they can share the tricks of the trade and discuss the best options to create your favourite coffee! Baristas are full of knowledge and they are crazy passionate about good coffee, so they will be happy to help you. Just remember that knowledge is key!
4. Slow is the go!
If you have a coffee machine at home, let’s tackle the foaming of the milk with style! The best advice is - don’t rush putting the air into the milk. The slow movements are key, because if you rush it girl, you’re going to get more bubbles than you can count! Don’t be scared when it makes a noise, just take it slow! Think about when you first learnt to drive a car, it takes time but you will get there!
5. Research, research, research
YouTube is your best friend. Whenever I don’t know how to use something or do something in the coffee world, I go to my fav YouTube channel which is ‘Alternative Brewing, brilliant ideas and inspiration. They cover how to do coffee at home on a budget and step-by-step on how to use every coffee method there is. Also, if you are wanting to buy a particular coffee product they do really good reviews and give great recommendations.
Signing out with the insightful words of Justina Chen,
“Adventure in life is good; consistency in coffee even better.”
About the Author
If there was a nation made up entirely of coffee lovers, iSEE Brisbane West’s, Maddie Walsh, would be their QWEEN. Passionate about a good cup of coffee, Maddie has not only revolutionized the Brisbane West locations’s cafe but has also trained and implemented best coffee practices across other locations. Her heart for the house, and a great coffee, is all packaged up in the most bubbly and loving women of God, whose laugh is just as infectious as her passion for all things coffee.