If you’re making coffee at home and thinking, “Why doesn’t this taste as good as the café?” — this guide is for you.
The good news: you don’t need a £1,000 espresso machine or a barista course to brew better coffee. You just need a few simple tweaks, some fresh beans, and a bit of curiosity.
In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk through how to brew better coffee at home step-by-step — in plain English, no coffee snob jargon. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to change tomorrow morning to get a better cup.
Why Your Home Coffee Doesn’t Taste As Good (Yet)
Most people blame their coffee machine. In reality, it usually comes down to three things:
- Old, stale supermarket beans
- Inconsistent grind size
- Guessing the coffee-to-water ratio
Fix those, and you’re already 80% of the way to café-level coffee at home.
Step 1: Start With Fresh, Quality Beans
If you remember one thing from this article, make it this:
Fresh beans matter more than fancy gear.
Fresh beans matter more than fancy gear.
What “fresh” actually means
- Look for a roasted-on date, not just a “best before” date
- Aim to use your coffee within 4–6 weeks of roasting
- Store it in a cool, dry place in a sealed bag or container
At David’s Beans, all our coffees are roasted fresh and shipped quickly, so you’re not brewing with beans that have been sitting on a shelf for months.
Whole bean vs pre-ground
- Whole bean: Best flavour. Grind just before brewing.
- Pre-ground: More convenient, slightly less fresh, but still miles better than old supermarket coffee if it’s roasted recently.
If you don’t own a grinder yet, don’t stress. Start with fresh pre-ground coffee, then upgrade later.
Step 2: Choose a Simple Brewing Method
You don’t need ten gadgets. Pick onemethod and get good at it.
Easiest options for beginners
- French press (cafetière) – Rich, full-bodied, forgiving
- Pour-over (V60, Kalita) – Clean, bright cup, a bit more hands-on
- AeroPress – Great all-rounder, quick, easy to clean
If you’re in the UK and already have a French press at home, that’s the perfect place to start.
Step 3: Use the Right Coffee-to-Water Ratio
This is where most people go wrong: too much coffee or way too little.
A simple starting point:
- 15–17g of coffee for every 250ml of water
- Or, if you don’t have scales yet: about 1 heaped tablespoon per 150–180ml of water
You can tweak this to taste:
- Too weak? Add a little more coffee next time.
- Too strong or bitter? Use slightly less coffee or a coarser grind.
Step 4: Get Your Grind Size in the Right Ballpark
Grind size controls how quickly flavour is extracted from the coffee.
You don’t need to be perfect, just in the right zone:
- French press: Coarse, like sea salt
- Pour-over: Medium, like sand
- AeroPress: Medium-fine, between table salt and sand
If your coffee tastes:
- Sour and sharp → grind finer (or brew a bit longer)
- Bitter and harsh → grind coarser (or brew a bit shorter)
If you’re buying pre-ground from David’s Beans, just choose your brew method on the product page and we’ll grind it appropriately for you.
Step 5: Use Good Water (It Matters More Than You Think)
Your cup is about 98% water, so the water you use matters.
- If your tap water tastes good to drink, it’s usually fine for coffee
- If it tastes very hard, metallic, or heavily chlorinated, try:
- A simple water filter jug, or
- Bottled still water with medium mineral content (nothing fancy)
Aim for water just off the boil:
- Boil the kettle
- Wait 30 seconds
- Then pour
Step 6: A Simple French Press Recipe (You Can Use Tomorrow)
Here’s a no-fuss recipe you can follow even half-asleep:
What you need
- French press (cafetière)
- Kettle
- 30g coffee (about 2–3 heaped tablespoons)
- 500ml hot water
Steps
- Boil the kettle, then let it sit for 30 seconds.
- Add coffee to the French press.
- Start a timer (or count slowly in your head).
- Pour water over the coffee, all the way to 500ml.
- Stir gently to make sure all the coffee is wet.
- Put the lid on, but don’t plunge yet.
- Wait 4 minutes.
- Gently press the plunger down.
- Pour and enjoy.
Taste it. If it’s a bit too strong, add a splash of hot water. If it’s too weak, add a little more coffee next time.
Common Questions About Brewing Better Coffee at Home
“Do I really need a grinder?”
Not on day one.
But if you fall in love with better coffee (you probably will), a basic hand grinder is one of the best upgrades you can make. It gives you:
But if you fall in love with better coffee (you probably will), a basic hand grinder is one of the best upgrades you can make. It gives you:
- Fresher coffee
- Control over grind size
- More consistent results
Until then, freshly roasted pre-ground coffee is absolutely fine.
“How do I store my coffee?”
- Keep it in its original bag if it has a one-way valve, or in an airtight container
- Store it in a cupboard, away from light, heat, and moisture
- Don’t put it in the fridge or freezer — the temperature changes and moisture can ruin the flavour
“What’s the best coffee for beginners?”
Look for something:
- Balanced and smooth, not ultra-dark and bitter
- With tasting notes like chocolate, nuts, caramel, or gentle fruit
From David’s Beans, for example:
- A Costa Rica or Colombia is perfect for French press and everyday brewing
- Our stronger blends (like Steel House Brew) are great if you want a bold, pre-workout-style kick
“How do I know if I’m doing it right?”
Simple: taste and adjust.
Ask yourself:
- Is it too bitter? → Try a coarser grind or shorter brew time
- Is it too sour or sharp? → Try a finer grind or longer brew time
- Is it flat and boring? → Use a bit more coffee or try a different origin/blend
Coffee brewing is less like a maths exam and more like sketching: you start rough and refine.
Small Tweaks That Make a Big Difference
Once you’ve nailed the basics, these little upgrades can level you up:
- Digital scales – So your recipe is consistent every morning
- Gooseneck kettle (for pour-over) – More control over your pour
- Try different origins – Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ethiopia… each has a different flavour personality
You don’t need all of this at once. Start where you are, with what you have. Add one upgrade at a time.
Brew Better Coffee. Fuel Better Ideas.
At David’s Beans, we believe coffee is creative fuel — for writers, designers, musicians, coders, and anyone building something from scratch at their kitchen table.
If you want to keep improving your home coffee game and support a small, creative-focused UK roaster, here’s what to do next:
- Follow David’s Beans on Instagramfor simple brewing tips, behind-the-scenes roasting, and creative coffee inspiration.
-
Sign up on our website to get:
- Fresh coffee drops
- Easy brew guides
- Occasional offers for our community of creative coffee lovers
Your next great idea might just start with a better cup of coffee.