If you know me, you know my day doesn’t start without coffee. And, I’m usually 3 cups in by noon. It’s who I am. Sure, I hit the Starbucks drive-thru like the rest of America for convenience on occasion. But, I am a self-proclaimed coffee snob. If I want GOOOOD coffee, I make it myself.

My dream is to have a fancy espresso maker in the new house, but for now my tried and true method for brewing my caffeine is with a French press. But, before we get to that.

You have to start with great coffee. You won’t find Folgers in my cup. No shade, but there is much better coffee in the world. Explore. Find what you like. And, ALWAYS buy whole bean coffee.

This is the first tip in brewing better coffee. Makes sense right? Start with the best ingredients.

Some of my favorite coffee beans are:

• Peace Coffee - Guatemalan Dark Roast

• Sweetwater Organic Coffee Co. - Midnight Oil French Roast

If you’re buying whole bean, you need a grinder. I’m in the market for a new one and I have my eye on the oxo Conical Burr Grinder. When considering coffee grinders, you want to opt for a burr grinder over a blade grinder. You have more control over the grind size with a burr grinder which makes a big difference in the overall taste.

I am a huge lover of the French press, and it’s important that you use a coarse grind.

Here’s the run down on how I make my best cup:

1. Grind your beans fresh. The amount of ground coffee you need is dependent on how many cups you’re making. Generally, the collection cup has measuring marks, and I go just a smidge over 4 cups.

2. Fill your kettle with filtered water, and set to boil. (Remember coffee is just coffee beans and water, so you want the best ingredients possible!)

3. Pour your grounds into the bottom of the French press.

4. Once the water kettle boils, wait about 30 seconds after the kettle is off to “wet the grounds”. It’s really important not to pour it right in - you don’t want to burn the grounds.

   • I like to gently wet the ground with just a splash of water to “wake them up”. This is actually called “blooming”. I stir them around with a wooden kebab stick.

5. After one minute, I proceed with pouring over the remainder of the water to fill the French press.

   • Once the rest of the water is added, you shouldn’t be able to “see through” the coffee. I like my coffee really dark, but you can play this by your tastebuds.

6. Use the wooden stick to thoroughly mix the grounds.

7. Top the French press and begin the brewing process for 4 minutes.

8. Press down the plunger, and proceed to fill your cup!

To be great at anything takes practice, and I’m still perfecting my methods. But, please let me know if this post taught you something new. My cold brew method is still in the very beginning stages - you think it’d be easier! But, I will say this makes a pretty delicious cup of hot coffee. Personally, I usually just drink mine black. But, if I do add anything - I love oat milk.