It’s International Coffee Day on 1 October, and to celebrate we are making our own coffee at home with these great tips. Your coffee will taste just as good as your take-away cup of coffee – and you’ll save some money in the process! 

These tips will help you make coffee that’s smooth, flavourful, and totally Instagram-worthy: 

Check your water temperature 

Did you know that you can ‘burn’ your coffee with boiled water. Don’t add the water to your mug after it has just boiled, giving it a bitter taste. To get the best result, leave your kettle to stand for about two minutes before adding the water to the coffee. Remember that coffee is majority water, so if you can, use filtered boiled water (especially in hard water areas) you’ll taste the difference! 

@gummeeteething #lifehacks #ilovecoffee #tiktokparents #coffeeloversonly ♬ Home Cover by Lukmco – mco

Add some flavour 

Craving a vanilla or mocha latte but not keen on whipping up syrups from scratch? No stress – you’ve got easy options! A splash of vanilla extract can instantly elevate your brew, while a teaspoon of drinking chocolate (or a couple of squares melted right in) turns your latte into a dreamy mocha. 

Perfect your frothing skills 

Frothing your milk not only elevates the taste of the milk but also looks just as good as your latte order from your favourite coffee shop. But how can you get the same level of skill with your frother at home? “When steaming your milk, listen out for the tearing noise. The more noise you make, the more foamy it’ll be, so you want to hear that noise for half the time you’re steaming the milk. After that, you should see a clear rolling of the milk, which will be popping large bubbles and enhancing the overall silky finish,” explains barista Simon Lewthwaite. Don’t have a frother? A simple trick is to warm the milk (not scalding hot), pour it into a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake for about 30 to 60 seconds. Or take a whisk and work it vigorously in your mug for a foamy cup of delight.   

@fountainavenuekitchen ☕️🥛🙌 👀 Make foam without a fancy frother! More #kitchenhacks and recipes at fountainavenuekitchen.com. #fountainavenuekitchen #tiktokhacks #frothycoffee #coffeetiktok ♬ original sound – Fountain Avenue Kitchen

Photography: Pexels