What’s the best way of making coffee at home?

Are you ready to learn how to make the best coffee at home?

There are so many advantages to working from home, but one thing can be a huge miss to coffee lovers - a decent barista-style brew. That’s why this guide is here to prove that you can make a delicious cup of coffee at home. In fact, there are many methods to making coffee at home, depending on the time you have available (I see you there sneaking away from your desk…), the type of coffee you like and the budget you have available for tools and accessories.

One thing’s for sure: no instant coffee is allowed here. Sorry not sorry.

But you can make a great cup of coffee for an affordable price.

If there’s one thing I can write about all day long, it’s coffee. Since starting my work from home routine in March 2020, I was determined to find a way to make my favourite beverage without leaving the house. For health and safety reasons, and the fact that all my favourite coffeehouses closed. And mostly because there are two flights of stairs to leave my flat.

I have tried many methods to crafting my much-needed morning cup of Joe at home, and will share what works for me - and what you’ll need to make your own espressos, Americanos and lattes. These guides feature coffee machine reviews, comparison guides on coffee makers and beans, and if you simply must get out of the house, a few ways to get a cup of coffee for free!

If you’re one of the 30.2% of respondents who felt their productivity has decreased since working from home, perhaps it’s time to invest in a coffee maker to help boost your energy levels during your working day!

Disclaimer: Product links on our website are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Learn more here.

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What types of coffee maker can you buy?

The easiest way to approach coffee making is to decide whether you want to buy a coffee machine like a Nespresso or Dolce Gusto, or use a manual coffeemaker like an Aeropress, cafetière or Hario V60.

You’ve probably already seen that there’s a huge choice of coffee makers that you can buy, so what’s the main differences?

Automatic coffee machines

Nespresso machine

The Nespresso is an iconic capsule-based coffee machine.

An electric coffee machine tends to do it all for you, whether you’re using pods or capsules of coffee designed for that machine, grinding beans to use, or using a bean-to-cup machine. Depending on the complexity of the machine, there’ll be settings you can customise, but it’s much easier to get a great cup of coffee. Some even have built in milk frothers to recreate your favourite cappuccinos or lattes.

Popular at home coffee machines include:

• Nespresso

• Nescafe Dolce Gusto

• De’Longhi Dedica

• Tassimo

Read more about the best at home electric coffee machines.

Manual coffeemakers

French press

Nothing’s easier than boiling the kettle then using a French press for a caffeine hit.

A manual coffeemaker is great for a quick drink, and work really well for black coffees like espressos and Americanos (coffees without milk or dairy-free alternatives). You can also control the results much better with a manual coffeemaker, especially when it comes to pour over methods like a V60 or Chemex.

Popular at home manual coffeemakers include:

• Hario V60

• Chemex

• Aeropress

• French press/cafetière

Read more about the best at home manual coffeemakers.

What is the best coffee to buy?

Whichever method you of coffee making you decide to try, you need the right coffee beans for the job. There are some brilliant specialist websites for buying ground coffee or coffee beans, and luckily, there are also some brilliant buys available to pick up in your next supermarket sweep or Amazon shop.

Top 5 coffee beans, ground coffee and pods to buy for use at home:

1. Taylors Hot Lava Java. Not for the faint-hearted, these beloved coffee beans from Taylors of Harrogate are strong and smoky. Buy it here.

2. Whittard Santos & Java. Available as ready-to-go ground coffee, Whittards of Chelsea’s popular Santos and Java blend is a sweet option with notes of burnt caramel, great as a black coffee. Buy it here.

3. Grind Coffee. Available in a range of options, including ground, beans and compostible Nespresso capsules, look no further than Grind for a smooth cuppa (and an Instagrammable pink tin too). Buy it here.

4. Starbucks Blonde Espresso. A mild and affordable option - light-bodied and mellow, available in most supermarkets. Buy it here.

5. Dolce Gusto Plant-Based Flat White Pods. If you’ve got a Nescafe Dolce Gusto and after a dairy-free latte, you’ll be happy to know they’ve launched a new range of latte pods, available in almond, coconut, and oat varieties. Buy it here.

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Quick coffee making hacks you’ll love

Not only does a French press provide a robust way of making your hot morning brew, it’s also great at making cold brew and milk. Read our 3 easy French press hacks to try today to learn more.

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Did you say free coffee?

If you are out and about on a well-deserved work from home break, here’s where you can find free coffee in the UK. Drink responsibly!

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