How do you make the best cup of coffee at home?
First, start with great coffee. For us at Sweet Maria's, that means selecting good quality specialty coffee and roasting your own coffee at home. We have a huge selection of green coffees for roasting at home. For those of you who do not roast at home - we do have a small amount of roasting that we do - those offerings are described on our Roasted Coffee page.
Next, you need to choose the type of brewing that suits you best. No brewing method is "best" - it is largely a matter of personal preference. Some brewing methods are more suited to one type of coffee than another, for example, vacuum brewing tends to emphasize the delicate flavors in a cup, whereas espresso brewing makes a potent concentrate. Some brewing methods are simpler, some are more complicated (the process takes longer, require a special coffee mill, etc). With any type of brewing method, you need to use good-tasting, fresh water and clean equipment. Water must be heated to between 195 and 205 degrees Farenheit. The proper brewing temperature and the proper grind are essential for maximum flavor extraction. And of course don't forget to clean your equipment! We have more tips on brewing on this page. And you can read user comments about all types of brewing on the Sweet Maria's Forum.
We offer a wide variety of brewing equipment:
Cleaner cup brewing methods
More concentrated brewing methods
