Kitchen Tip: Making Delicious Coffee

When it comes to brewing coffee at home, so many things can go wrong!  Whether it's the wrong size filter or a dirty coffee pot, a wonderful pot of coffee could be ruined by tiny mishaps.  Here's how to avoid those mishaps!

First, begin with a clean coffee pot.  Hand wash the pot, the filter cup, and the lid of the pot with warm running water and soap.  If it's been a while, clean the inside of the machine, as well.  Be sure you have the right filters for your machine; not all machines use the same filters.

Second, MEASURE YOUR WATER.  Matching up the amount of water to the amount of ground coffee is important.  This ensures that your coffee will have the taste that specific coffee is supposed to have.  I prefer a bold and rich taste, so for every cup of water I use 1 1/2 tbsp of ground coffee.  *Tip: Placing a pinch of iodized salt into the ground coffee is helpful in preventing grounds from appearing in your coffee after it has been brewed.*

Third, wait until the coffee is completely done brewing before pouring yourself a cup.

I hope these three tips are helpful!  After brewing coffee at home for four years, I have learned all of these the hard way!

Cafe Au Lait.. at home!

I've always wondered why drinks at Starbucks are the more expensive than ONE whole gallon of milk!  Determined to find a cheaper way to enjoy those oh-so-wonderful caffeinated drinks I love so much, I created this recipe to make a cafe au lait (one of my favorites) at home!

So, here we go.

It's very simple!

Serves 2
Ingredients:
1 cup of freshly brewed coffee (since it is a French drink, I suggest using a dark, bold roast coffee)
1 cup warmed milk

Procedure:

In a small pot, heat 1 cup of milk over low heat.  Consistently whisk to create foam, and whisk faster as foam increases.  *You DO NOT want the milk to boil!*  This step will take about 8 minutes.  Patience is key!

Once warm, pour 1/2 cup of warm milk into microwavable coffee mug.  Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds.  Remove from microwave and pour 1/2 cup of freshly brewed coffee into milk and mix.  Repeat for the second serving.  Add sugar to your liking (I added 1 1/2 tbsp).

And voila!  It's that simple.  Doesn't that beat paying an arm and a leg at Starbucks?

Feel free to leave comments and suggestions!  I love feedback.