I’m spending a fortune on takeaway coffee. Can I make a good one at home without a machine?
Harry, Leeds
You could save hundreds of pounds a year by upping your home coffee game. A little bit of investment goes a long way, says James Hoffmann, author of How to Make the Best Coffee at Home: “Take a month’s budget of cafe coffee and spend it on a grinder.”
“Buying ground coffee is like buying a diced apple,” Hoffmann adds. “It rapidly starts to go stale and break down.” A grinder also lets you make coffee in a host of ways, by adjusting the grind size – medium to medium-fine for a cafetiere, say. “But make sure you go for a burr grinder for a consistent texture.” A set of scales for weighing the beans is also handy to ensure a reliable cup each time. That might seem nerdy, but you don’t necessarily need to fork out: “Kitchen scales work just fine,” Hoffmann says.
