If you've made it this far, you are probably a big coffee lover. That's why we've gathered tips for you that will elevate your homemade coffee, whether it's Greek, espresso, or even filter!

Espresso

Espresso has become a significant part of our lives and is now even more popular than Greek coffee! However, few people know how to make it at home so that it is as good as the one made by your favorite barista.

Some basic things you should know:

1. Prefer coffee beans, not ground coffee

Once coffee is ground, it loses its aromas and intensity in just a few days! An electric coffee grinder will solve this problem for you. It starts at €10 and will make a significant level up in your experience.

2. Don’t use plain tap water

Plain tap water has a high content of minerals and salts, depending on the area, which alters the taste of the coffee. Use a water filter pitcher, to make it “lighter” and let you taste all its aromas!

3. For Cappuccino, choose the right milk

If you’re new and are just starting to learn how to make milk foam, prefer a light milk that will froth more easily and have a nice texture, but keep in mind that it won’t have the same intensity of flavor as whole milk. Of course, if you don’t want to get into it and want to always have the perfect milk foam, you can simply choose a milk frother for greater convenience!

Greek Coffee

Perhaps the first coffee we all tried, when our grandfather or grandmother first gave us a cookie dipped in the cup. You can't help but have it in your heart, even if it's not your go-to coffee! Below, the secrets to making it just like grandma did in the village.

1. Turn the heat very, very low

Coffee on hot embers is amazing, that’s true, but since it’s a bit difficult to have a ready, hot bed of embers in your kitchen every morning, learn to make it properly with a small gas burner and a briki. It is extremely important to keep the heat very low while brewing the coffee so it can warm up slowly and have time to release its aromas before it “boils”.

2. Don’t let it rise

It is very important, as soon as it starts to rise around the edges, to remove it from the heat before all the foam has time to “lift”. If the coffee gets to the point of rising, meaning it reaches a boil, a large part of its aromas is lost!

3. Don’t serve it immediately

When you take the coffee off the heat, let it sit for at least 3 minutes so the grounds can settle in the briki. The coffee you end up serving will be much “cleaner” in taste and texture!

Filter Coffee

Filter coffee, or otherwise known as French coffee as we commonly call it in Greece, is the coffee that you can never settle for just one cup a day. It comes in so many aromas that it is impossible to stick to the classic. Like all coffees, it also has its tricks.

1. Use a filter

Even if your coffee maker has its own filter (the mesh one), the result cannot be compared to a coffee that has passed through a paper filter. The paper retains even the finest grounds, resulting in a very smooth coffee with a “silky” texture.

2. “Wet” the coffee before you add it

It may sound strange, but it is a very important step that the coffee maker cannot do on its own. Put the coffee in the filter, add about 50 ml of hot water, just enough to cover the grounds, and let it sit for 45”-60” before pressing the machine’s button. It may seem like a minor step, but this way the carbon dioxide residues are released from the coffee and its aromas are enhanced. Trust us, you’ll notice the difference in your cup!

3. Keep the appliance clean

It is very important to wash both the carafe and the filter funnel with hot water and soap every time before using it again. This way, you will avoid flavor changes from old coffee residues in your equipment.

We hope you have now learned the secrets of coffee, and that you enjoy your next cup even more!

Happy International Coffee Day, coffee lovers!