Mastering the skill of making the perfect cup of coffee – preferably including latte art – is the goal for any great home barista. Not only does it make your coffee taste better, it makes your coffee ritual more fun! Preparing a cup of coffee will become a special moment to look forward to. It’s also a great skill to impress your friends with. So, how do you become a great home barista?

What is a home barista?

To become a great home barista, we first need to tell you exactly what it means to be one. Being an at-home barista means that you go the extra mile for every cup of coffee you make. It’s no longer a single click on a machine, but a ritual of finding the perfect coffee beans, the right grind size and mastering several cool techniques (like latte art) to create a cup of coffee that looks and tastes delicious.

A home barista’s tools

Just like any other expert, a home barista needs tools. Because you can’t create art without the right equipment. We’ve made a list to get you started on your coffee adventure:

1. Coffee maker(s): all great barista’s need a variety of coffee makers to make their coffee creations with. There are many in the market nowadays, such as a French presses, espresso makers, slow drip coffee makers and more. Take a look here to browse our collection.
2. Coffee mill: whole coffee beans are the first love of any home barista. So, a coffee mill is a necessity in your home barista tool collection. Grind your beans in the perfect grind size to find that perfect taste.
3. Milk frother: for all your latte art creations. We prefer using a French press or a handheld frother, but you can find other milk frothers out there as well. A must-have for the coolest milk creations!
4. Coffee glasses: when you’ve made the perfect coffee, you need proper glasses to serve it in! We have a collection of sleek double-walled coffee glasses that will keep your coffee creation hot for longer and looking just as good.
5. Coffee tray: take your delivery to the next level with a good looking coffee tray and serve your coffees in style.

How to become a great home barista: tips and techniques

1. Know your coffee beans and coffee grinds

In a world where you have endless choice in coffee beans, it’s good to know your blends and origins. Our favourite types of coffee beans are Ethiopian coffee beans, arabica coffee beans, French roast beans, Robusta coffee beans and Kenyan coffee beans. Then of course comes the importance of grind size and what grinding does to the taste of the beans. Try out different grinds to find your favourite taste.

2. The importance of espresso

A good espresso is often the base of many delicious coffee creations. A cappuccino, for example, is made with a single shot of espresso. But there are also delicious latté’s that use two shots, or a weaker taste profile. So, it’s important to know your espresso’s. From a straight up hard-core espresso shot, to a full-blown macchiato. 

3. Steam milk and make latte art

Knowing how to steam your milk is just as important as the art you create with it. Nobody wants to take the first sip of their perfectly delicious cup of coffee, only to find out the milk has burned. So, practice with steaming your milk before you start practicing your latte art! When you’ve mastered that, it’s time to get crazy with shapes and figures in your coffees.

4. Creative coffee recipes

A great home barista always has a number of trick up their sleeve, and of course a bunch of signature coffee recipes! Original coffee recipes are often created by experimenting with different coffee beans, flavour profiles and (home-made) syrups and spices.

Ready to get your home barista game going? Then head on over to our collection of the coolest coffee products and practice those skills!