How to become a home barista

We spoke to Coffee Planet's Roastmaster, Cleia Junqueira about all you need to take your Cup of Joe to the next level.

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Although the instant variety still has its place in kitchen cupboards, brewing up a fresh, barista-standard coffee at home is the best option for a flavourful cup. Brilliantly, it's never been easier to get good at making great coffee.

To set you on your way, we spoke to Cleia Junqueira, roastmaster at Coffee Planet, to find out what you need to become a barista in your own home.

What three pieces of brewing equipment would you recommend to start?

Either a Moka pot, Aeropress or French Press. The Moka pot works on a stove top, while the Aeropress and French Press use a similar style plunger to filter the ground coffee beans.

What types of coffee is best to experiment with?

For those who prefer an intense coffee I'd recommend Coffee Planet Italian, SpinneysFOOD Italian, SpinneysFOOD House Blend, SpinneysFOOD Ethiopia or Coffee Planet Reserve African. Those who enjoy some acidity should try Coffee Planet Reserve Americas, SpinneysFOOD Colombia or Coffee Planet Organic. And for those that prefer a smooth, well-rounded coffee, Coffee Planet Breakfast or SpinneysFOOD Peru Organic will be best.

An Aeropress in action.

Cafe latte coffee

What are the three most important tips to coffee house style brews?

Grind your beans: You will enhance your coffee experience if you grind your coffee beans just before you brew. Not everybody has a grinder at home, however, it makes a big difference in the process and they're relatively inexpensive now. Buy the correct grounded coffee for the method of preparation also helps. e.g. our CP Italian is ground for Moka Pot and CP French is ground for French Press.

Store your coffee properly: Use a standard Mason jar to keep your coffee fresh for longer. Be sure to clean it thoroughly before you add any new coffee beans to it too.

Get the water right: Mineral or filtered water is good enough for making good coffee. Just take to consider that the temperature should be between 92°C-94°C. If you need to use a regular kettle to heat the water, let it cool for a while after it boils before using it with the ground coffee.

Coffee Planet is one of Spinneys trusted coffee suppliers.

Coffee Planet has always been a strong advocate for sustainability. Can we get involved too?

Our dedication and passion for environmental conservation and correct farming practices have led us to being recognised as the only coffee brand in the UAE to receive and maintain a UTZ badge of honour since 2017. As one of the region’s first and most experienced speciality coffee roasters, we are acutely aware of the impact we have on our planet and that’s why we commit to planting a tree through our partnership with The Eden Reforestation Project, every time someone buys a box of our new biodegradable capsules. That’s right – you get to enjoy freshly roasted 100% Arabica coffee at home and the earth gets more trees. Win-win for everyone.