Choosing your coffee beans

Whether you go for light, medium or dark roast, to get the ultimate coffee experience at home I recommend going from bean to cup. If you’re being exacting, you want your coffee beans to be freshly roasted when you use them.

I get my beans from Union Coffee who hand roast their coffee in east London and will deliver them to you wherever you are – roasting to order. One of my favourites is the Maraba from Rwanda, and I always have a whiff as soon as I receive my batch it is the most divine smell ever.

When choosing where you get your beans from, have a look at the sourcing practises and focus of different coffee brands and companies, ensuring the coffee farmers working hard at the beginning of your coffee’s chain aren’t left behind.

Brewing method - to capsule or not?

Nespresso and Lavazza machines have been an easy choice for many with little time, but the waste that comes with a capsule cup when all that’s inside is a scoop of ground coffee doesn’t make it the most sustainable practice - especially if you don’t use biodegradable pods.

I’ve used a machine myself in the past and they are a quick and easy way into making a decent coffee but they leave out a part of the process you can really come to enjoy, reducing your own footprint in the process.

Bean to cup machines are beautiful things but they come with a pretty hefty price tag and to get the pressure right for a good shot of your favourite espresso, it’s an investment you need to be ready and willing to make. Machines, as with most things, also need maintenance and cleaning. If you’re not looking to invest about £500 and really show the machine some love, get yourself a grinder like I did and try one of the options below.

How to brew great coffee at home: a beginner’s guide