Today, I’m proud to announce a new partnership with Starbucks, the largest coffeehouse company in the world.

While, no two days are alike in the life of Chicago Food Girl, my morning cup of coffee remains a consistent staple of my daily routine. As an avid-coffee drinker, I’m fortunate to live near several Starbucks, but I don’t always have the time or patience to wait in-line.

Thanks to Starbucks, I recently discovered how to home-brew the perfect cup of coffee. Every cup begins with one simple formula: proper proportion, accurate grind, quality water and fresh coffee.

1. Proportion
The recipe for great coffee is 2 Tbsp (10 g) of freshly ground coffee for every 6 fl oz (180 mL) of water. Keep this proportion consistent no matter how much you’re brewing. If the results are too strong for your taste, add hot water to your cup. Using less coffee will create a bitter cup.

2. Grind
Proper grind is determined by your brewing method: press, drip or fine. It will also determine how long the coffee and water are in contact and how much flavor is extracted. You should always grind right before brewing to decrease the exposure of it to oxygen.

3. Water
Water makes up 98% of every cup of coffee. So it’s important that it tastes clean, fresh and free of impurities. Filtered or bottled water is best, but if you’re using tap water, make sure it’s cold. Heat the water to almost boiling at 195˚ to 205˚F in order to extract the coffee’s full range of flavors.

4. Freshness
An opened bag of coffee is highly perishable, just like fresh produce. Store your beans in an airtight container at room temperature for no longer than a week. The trick is to keep it away from oxygen, light, heat and moisture as much as possible. We recommend grinding your beans just before brewing to make sure the end result is fresh flavor.

This combination can be used at home, no matter how you brew your coffee.

Share some of your tips below!

Visit Starbucks.com for more information.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. Review and opinions are my own.

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