As a coffeehouse owner, I shouldn't be writing this. What about my profits and my rent payment? Even I understand that sometimes you just need to roll out of bed and smell a delicious cup of coffee without going anywhere. But how is it that just about any coffee house can put out a better cup of coffee than you can in your own kitchen? Like a naughty magician, I'm about to reveal some secrets to making a decent cup of coffee in your own house.

Step 1- Water. Coffee is more than 98% water. If your water is nasty, your coffee will be nastier. Do you enjoy the tap water in your house? If so, you should be able to make a decent cup of coffee. If not, consider using filtered water or buying a purifier for your faucet. All quality and specialty coffeehouses have internal filtration systems that leave exactly the right amount of calcium and minerals in the water. If your coffee is not as delicious, it's your water.

Step 2- Good beans. No matter what anyone tells you NEVER, NEVER put your beans in the freezer. Coffee hates moisture, air and light. The humidity in your freezer will destroy your beans. Keep them stored in a dark, airtight container and grind just before using when possible. The most recently roasted beans will have the best flavor and the most concentrated oils.

Step 3- A good machine. The features you need depend on what you're doing with your coffee. You should never let your coffee sit on a burner- so if you often brew a big pot and drink it over a few hours, invest in a thermal-carafe brewer. If you're drinking one cup at a time, a pod maker may be your best shot at a great cup of coffee. I like the convenience of some models that brew into travel mugs directly, use pods and can make hot tea. If you're going to have a lot of coffee quickly or you don't mind making a few cups at a time, use a programmable model by any familiar maker. Just don't leave your coffee sitting in the carafe!

Step 4- Grind. If your home coffee tastes bitter, it's likely not the quality of the beans but the amount you are using. Before you throw the maker or the beans out, try a coarser grind of beans. If you grind your beans too finely, the water sits too long and overextracts the coffee flavor. If your home coffee tastes weak, use a finer grind. If you're really serious about coffee, you'll want to invest in a burr grinder that you can easily adjust the coarseness of the grind. Blade grinders are good if you're not picky or if you grind lots of spices at home.

Go forth and brew!

Learn more about this author, Tracy Chatters.
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