Max Mara
How to Make Barista-Style Coffee at Home
Feature: Long Read
Words by Emilie Dock
How to brew the perfect cup of coffee is a lesson we should all learn – and who better to advise us than our coffee roaster Romain Berton? From understanding the differences between light and dark roasts, to choosing the right grind size for your brewing method, allow Romain to revolutionise your cup. Then, of course, you’ll need the kit; state-of-the-art espresso machines, precision filter-brewers, latte-perfecting milk jugs... Coming right up!
At Harrods, Romain and the team oversee the roasting of 1,000kg beans and the 25,000 cups of coffee made per week. In short: the man knows his beans – and provided you’re starting with fresh, high-quality beans, he’s absolutely certain that you too can brew excellent coffee at home. Firstly, it’s a case of knowing the basics...
ROMAIN BERTON, COFFEE ROASTER AT HARRODS
“Making coffee is an art, a craft and a science. I’m in constant search for the perfect flavour – and every day my tasting vocabulary expands”
1. The Roast
“A light roast sees less heat than a dark roast, meaning you’ll be able to taste all of the subtle nuances of good-quality beans – notes of rosehip, jasmine or blueberry, for instance. Dark roasts are more single-note in flavour, and the pressure on the beans means they release more oils, producing a thicker or more full-bodied cup – usually reserved for lower-quality beans. As ever, choosing your roast is a question of taste!”
2. The Grind
“Your brewing method should determine which coffee grind to use; it’s all about how long the coffee will be in contact with the water. For a full-immersion brewer such as a French press, where the coffee will sit in the water for a few minutes, you need a coarser grind. For an espresso machine, or even a V60, where the coffee will only come into contact while it’s passing through it, you should use a fine grind.”
3. The Water
“The water you use to brew your coffee can have a huge impact on its flavour. The Specialty Coffee Association recommends using water that measures 120ppm–150ppm [parts per million, aka how ‘hard’ it is]. Tricky, seeing as tap water in London can have as much as 330ppm… Try brewing your next coffee with mineral water; you’ll easily taste the difference.”
The Best Coffee Machines for Every Type of Brew
For Café-Quality Espresso at Home
Small but mighty, this retro-style machine is the brand’s first venture out of commercial use – La Marzocco machines are used by baristas around the world and in our very own Harrods Café too. Complete with a three-in-one convertible portafilter, you can even connect it to the brand’s app so it’s always hot and ready for your morning cup.
For Strong, Black Coffee
Nine out of 10 Italian homes own a moka pot, with good reason. The stovetop brewer makes espresso-quality coffee without the need for big, fancy equipment. Designed in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, this limited-edition Bialetti option is a stylish addition to your kitchen.
For Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans
How long do coffee beans stay fresh for?
"For optimum coffee drinking, you want to be using your beans within two weeks of them being roasted. If you’ve bought more than you can drink, pack them into small portions and pop them in the freezer. Otherwise, store them in an airtight vessel in a cool, dark place."
For Flawless Bean-to-Cup
It won’t deliver your coffee with a smile, but that’s about the only thing this smart machine won’t do. Simply pre-load with beans, select your style of brew (espresso, latte, etc.) and a few minutes later out comes a delicious cup.
For the Daily Grind
You know the drill: freshly ground coffee yields a more flavourful cup. You also need to get the right grind size for your brewing method (see Romain’s explanation above). With over 100 years of expertise, this professional grinder will do just that.
For Precision Bean Grinding
What is crema?
"Crema is that tan-coloured foam that appears on top of a freshly pulled espresso. It’s formed when tiny bubbles of C02 combine with coffee oils. To achieve it at home, you’ll need an espresso machine, as it requires a good grinder and intense pressure."
For Cold-Brew Coffee to Go
Make your own refreshing cold brews on ice thanks to this machine’s cold extraction process, engineered to draw out all the flavour nuances of your favourite beans, without any bitterness. Expect hot and cold brews speciality coffees at the touch of a button.
For Latte Art
Hit the sweet spot for perfectly texturised milk (between 65°C and 70°C) every time with Sage’s clever milk jug with a built-in thermometer and indicator strip, and use the expertly designed spout to practise your latte-art designs.
For Perfectly Frothed Milk
How do you make frothy milk at home?
"You can use a French press to pump hot milk until frothy, or you can get an electric frother. For latte art, use a professional steam wand which allows you to ‘stretch’ or ‘texturise’ milk to create microfoam, which you can use to draw patterns on your coffee."
For Pour-Over Coffee
You know the drill: freshly ground coffee yields a more flavourful cup. You also need to get the right grind size for your brewing method (see Romain’s explanation above). With 16 settings, this professional grinder will do just that.
For Easy Coffee, and Lots of It
Hit the sweet spot for perfectly texturised milk (between 65°C and 70°C) every time with Sage’s clever milk jug with a built-in thermometer and indicator strip, and use the expertly designed spout to practise your latte-art designs.
For the Full-Bodied Brew
What’s the perfect temperature for brewing coffee?
"Brew coffee with water over 95°C and you’ll extract too much bitterness; under 87°C and you won’t pull out all of the individual flavours. Water that’s been off the boil for a minute should do, or you can eliminate the guesswork with a precision brewer."
![The Harrods Guide to Coffee]()
The Harrods Guide to Coffee
Read & ShopThink you know your beans? Brush up on your knowledge with our need-to-know coffee guide – from the different types to the many ways it can be served.
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