Coffee at home Part 1: All you need

Be it because you are starting a journey to get deep into a long lasting passion for this amazing drink, or you are just curious about the way in which coffee is made, the deal is that you want to prepare a good cup of coffee at home, and we are here to help you.

Like with everything at home, first you need the time, concentration and interest to start to get into coffee at all, some coffee preparations can last from less than one minute to over 12 hours, so it’s always up to you.

Now, what about what we are actually preparing, it’s honestly important to know and appreciate what we drink and its origins, so lets start our journey with the beginning of it all.

Where does coffee come from?

Our story starts a long long time ago in the Horn of Africa, exactly in Ethiopia and more possibly in Kaffa province. There are many stories of how it happened, that vary from who talks about it, Yemen, Italy, and so on. But one stays strong in Ethiopian oral tradition and that is the one of the goat herder that realized that after eating certain fruits, his goats stayed up all night (some say there were even dancing), that sounds a lot like what many of us do nowadays.

What we know for sure, is where it started and where it went from there. To Yemen the beans arrived and so started the “coffee culture” as we would call it today. Arabian coffee houses all around, places to share information, to gossip, to get together with other people, to experience coffee. And the rest, is just history.

Trade, war, talks, meetings and experiments brought coffee from some locals in Ethiopia to the cozy coffee shop that charges you crazy amounts of money for a simple drink, so there comes the question…

Should I get keep paying for a latte?

Well, like everything it depends. You could if you really wanted to, but as people with passion and fundamental interest in coffee we want to scream: “NO!”

While the practicality of just going to the siren shop and getting a fast cup is superb, at the same time is just exactly that, fast, so if you are looking into some extra then it’s by no means a rival to what the whole experience of brewing at home feels like.

Once in a while we also indulge into a coffee shop, it’s sounds, smells and simplicity, but there is just something almost magical in choosing beans, roast, grinding, pouring, and tasting at home that just can’t compare.  

So, what do I need to start?

Now, this is the tricky question, some will say: coffee, water, cup. And they might not be wrong! That’s exactly what you need for a bland, boring cup of coffee that won’t even make you feel better at all! But if what you want is a good old cup of coffee, then this list is for you.

Coffee Beans

The heart of a good experience starts with a bag a good quality coffee beans. There are many types to choose from, you can check our article on How to choose good coffee beans if it’s what you prefer,  but to start with we will just let you know that good quality beans are not just the most expensive ones, might not even be that expensive at all and still be the best in the market, but they all are something specific, natural.  So, keep in mind that keeping them dry and in a sealed containers is a must if you don’t want to keep buying new bags of coffee over and over.

For this you recommend our Glass Food Jar with Lid Food Storage Containers with Airtight Seal,made to last and with Vevok Chef’s quality.

Coffee Grinder

This is where the expertise comes in, there are different options for coffee grinders, but there are strong differences between each, from a mortar and pestle to a thousand dollars electric grinder.

Because we put experience before everything else, we also decided to specialize in manual coffee grinders, and we still believe is the best option. You never make too much or too little, you feel like you put a little bit of you into the work of the coffee and honestly the aromas just make it all feel better.

Choosing a coffee grinder might not always be easy, so if you are a beginner we recommend start with Vevok Chef’s Premium Coffee Grinder. Or just follow this article with some comparisons between different grinders that we prepared.

Water, water, water

Obvious as anything else, but you will need water, either hot or cold, but you will need it.

If you embark into the realm of hot coffee then you will need some extra tools that might be a little bit more complex to get a hold of than just preparing cold brew, but take a look at what follows and you will know for sure what gear is ideal for you.

Gear, what gear?

Gear is how we call the tools you will use to prepare each kind of coffee, so, we understand that the basics are always the same, beans, grinder, water, but here is where everything changes according to which kind of coffee you want to prepare, so let’s start with the classics:

- Pour over: You will need a dripper, either paperless or you will also need filters, a server for your coffee.

- French Press: a French press, nothing more than that.

- Moka Pot: a Moka pot or Italian espresso maker, plus a stove where to prepare the coffee.

- Espresso: a obvious espresso machine, portafilter, tamper, shot glass.

In conclusion…

You might only need coffee and water for coffee, or a few bucks, but for the best coffee at home, you will need a few more things: quality coffee beans, a coffee grinder, your preferred coffee maker and of course, a cup.