Tips for cafe-quality coffee without leaving your kitchen

(BPT) - A great coffee maker can go a long way toward crafting the perfect cup of coffee at home. A high-quality machine is just one part of the equation.

“Everyone has their ideal cup of coffee based on their preferences,” says Pete Licata, 2013 world barista champion. “No coffee is better, just different. Understanding the basic pieces that make up those differences can help anyone brew a perfect cup at home.”

Here are some tips to achieve cafe-quality coffee without leaving your kitchen.

The beans

Beans are the most critical ingredient in the quest for coffee perfection. For the best flavor, buy fresh, local, whole coffee beans. Still overwhelmed by the choices? Start with an easy-to-drink medium roast, or ask your local barista for suggestions.

The storage

Contrary to popular belief, coffee won’t stay fresher longer in the refrigerator or freezer. Moisture will cause coffee beans to deteriorate, so keep your beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry space.

The grind

The coffee grind is the key point in adjusting flavor, especially when making espresso. (By the way, espresso is not a roast, bean or specific blend. The difference between regular coffee and espresso is the brewing process.) A finer grind slows extraction, making for a stronger, lower-toned flavor – think semisweet chocolate. A coarser grind will speed up the extraction and bring more acidity, similar to citrus, to the flavor.

The maintenance

For the everyday coffee lover, try investing in a built-in gourmet coffee system for your kitchen. Wolf's new system makes professional-quality brewed coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte and macchiato, and perfectly steams and foams milk in seconds, producing a consistently delicious cup of coffee, every time. One-touch convenience adds ease to the system's milk cleaning feature, which uses steam and requires no disassembly. Also stay away from flavored coffees with names like "vanilla" or "hazelnut." They can often leave residual oils in your machine that will be difficult to get rid of.

The milk

In most cases, use 2 percent or whole milk to create perfect foam. Fat content creates a better, sweeter taste and texture. However, Wolf's coffee systems produce the best froth when using skim or semi-skimmed milk, which is also the healthiest way. Lactose intolerant? Soy milk and almond milk will work, but because oat milk has the same proton and fat structures as dairy milk, it will produce a more similar foam.

The crema

Crema is the white or light-brown froth at the top of your coffee – a suspended emulsion of bubbles, oils and gasses extracted from the bean. This is the sign of quality extraction and fresh beans. The fineness and tightness of the bubbles add texture.

To check out features of the new Wolf coffee system, visit www.subzero-wolf.com.