If you’ve recently moved or are expecting to collect the keys to your new property any day now, you may be wondering about the best way to entertain inquisitive friends and family destined to drop in when you least expect it. Here, we share five top tips for impressing your guests with a perfectly prepared coffee.
The property market is currently experiencing its busiest year since 2007, with the total value of homes sold expected to reach over £460 billion. This unexpected growth has been considered the result of a number of factors including the stamp duty holiday, government mortgage guarantees and the need for increased space as more workers have made the decision to work from home.
Property website, Zoopla, predicts that home sales will reach as much as 1.52 million in 2021, a 45% increase on 2020 figures and the busiest period for 14 years. However, far from being limited to London and the South of England, popular areas include Wales, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North-West.
Wherever you’ll be calling home
You may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices for home brewing - aeropresses, moka pots, filters, cafetiers - as well as the many brands of pod-based machines on the market. Ultimately, finding the perfect coffee-making method for you depends on three factors: quantity, economy and convenience.
The classic cafetiere or French press is a great option if you’re on a budget. It’s also the easiest way to accommodate groups, with virtually no waste - simply make the amount of coffee you need. It’s also fast and filter-free, giving you more time for conversation and giving the all-important grand tour of your new digs. For an easy guide, read our blog on using a French press.
More suitable for two to three cups, the Chemex and V60 use filters but offer a simple way to offer home-brewed coffee (imagine the aroma as you welcome your guests). While they vary in terms of brewing time and the required coarseness of the coffee grounds, you can still enjoy a delicious cup in less than 10 minutes.
With an automatic coffee machine, the hard work of grinding and brewing is done for you. All you need to do is choose a pod. What’s more, you can serve each guest the roast they prefer, so everyone is kept happy. Cleaning up is also quick and easy and, if you’re environmentally conscious, you can even buy compostable pods compatible with your machine.
Each individual roast has its own depth and unique flavours. A brew’s flavour can depend on where and how the beans have been grown, and how they have been roasted - whether darkly or lightly. Some baristas describe the preference for darker or lighter roasts as like preferring your steak rare, medium or well-done.
Each coffee supplier will have their own method of defining the level of roast, but generally the levels increase as the roast progresses from light, to medium, to dark. For example, our Novell No-Waste coffees vary as follows:
|
10 |
Ristretto |
A bitter and full-bodied coffee with light smoky notes and hints of liquorice. |
|
9 |
Intenso |
A sweet but intense espresso with warm chocolate and vanilla flavours. |
|
9 |
Cremoso |
An espresso full of caffeine, vigor, strength and energy, with aromas of cedar and chamomile and notes of toasted bread, peanuts and liquorice. |
|
8 |
Più Aroma |
A coffee rich in descriptors and low in caffeine with a fruity and floral aroma. |
|
7 |
Decaffeinato |
Offers identical cup nuances to those of a great espresso, with citrus and floral aromatic notes. |
Tap water is treated with chlorine, and this usually affects the taste of tea and coffee. A good water filter will remove chlorine and any small particles while leaving enough minerals for flavour enhancement - an essential part of making the perfect cup. In addition, depending on where you live, excess calcium in your water can cause limescale build up, which could affect your coffee machine in the long run.
Baristas recommend keeping your filtered water in the fridge and, if brewing at home, to heat it to between 90-110 degrees celsius before pouring over the coffee grounds. Too cold and the water won’t extract the flavours from the coffee grounds, while over-boiled water can scorch the grounds and affect the taste of the coffee.
Flavoured syrups can now be found in most supermarkets and coffee shops on the high street and they can be a great way to make a home-brewed coffee shareworthy. Popular flavours include vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, cinnamon and chocolate.
For a regular flavoured coffee, 1-2 tablespoons of syrup is perfect, but it very much depends on how sweet you like your drink. Always add less rather than more to begin with as you can’t take it back out again! Ideally, the syrup should be combined with hot coffee, rather than cooled, and then stirred. Milk should be added last of all.
Adding a pinch of spices to your coffee grounds can also lend a touch of something special, with cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and lavender each offering a different effect. Simply add a pinch or two to your coffee grounds and brew in your usual way.
There are many myths about keeping your coffee fresh for the next brew, but the most effective method is to store it in an opaque, air-tight container away from light, excess heat, and moisture. A cupboard or pantry away from the oven is ideal.
For beans, it is wise to use them as quickly as possible, but you can put them in the freezer if needed (be sure to defrost thoroughly before using). For grounds, store at room temperature in a container that won’t add unwanted flavours to your coffee. Many baristas recommend ceramic jars. Don’t store any coffee in the fridge - unless you want it to absorb the flavours of last night’s leftovers.
If you’ve been inspired to invest in a coffee machine or try out some new home-brewing equipment, why not stock up on Novell’s capsules, beans or grounds? With a selection of roasts, we’re sure you’ll find something to help you get creative in your new home. Shop online today!
Here at Novell, we get asked the question a lot. What is gourmet coffee?
Well we’re here to tell you!