TO BREW OR NOT TO BREW!

To Brew or Not to Brew, that is the question at hand here! Do I brew at home and get a lower quality product tarnished by the water quality of my sink facet and the old grounds I have stored in the freezer or do I go grab a $3.00 cup from a local coffee shop, which I know will be of a certain quality and taste?
This question has popped up in every avid coffee drinker's mind, especially this time of year when your resolution is to save money! This problem can be solved without sacrificing any quality or taste. You just have to know the steps to take to make a quality cup at home. So read on and I will let you in on some secrets to improve your drip coffee-brewing skills.
First things first... Stop buying coffee from a supermarket! You deserve better, and the farmers that put in real time deserve better as well. I bet if you Google a local coffee shop, you will not only find a great atmosphere but you will also find one that offers great prices on whole bean coffee. So when you have found a couple of places to check out there are some things you need to look for. One, do they roast their own beans? If the answer to this question is yes, then see if any of it is fair trade or direct trade - this means that the roasters are directly involved with the farmers, and are ensuring that the farmers are paid fairly. Two, ask them if you can take some beans home to sample or sample a brewed version at the shop. Most coffee companies will already have it brewed or be happy to let you take home a little for you to try - the trick is that you actually have to ask.
Now that you have found a certain bean and roast combination that you will enjoy, all you need are the tools to brew to perfection. Do not keep your coffee in the freezer. This changes the composition of the oils that are naturally in the beans, and kills the flavor. The best place to keep your whole beans and pre-ground coffee is in an opaque airtight container in a dark cool place with a very limited amount of humidity. It is best to grind the beans as close to brew time as possible to get the absolute freshest cup feasible. But if you do not have a grinder at home, then do not purchase more than you will drink in a week. The shop where you purchased the beans will grind them for you based on your method of brewing.
Clean your coffee maker with 1 oz vinegar to 7 oz water, and then brew a small batch that you intend to throw out to get rid of any residue. Use water that is purified to not only protect your brewer from residue build up, but also to give your cup a crisper, unaltered taste. Last but not least is to use a bleached or clean metal filter. I know this may seem a little weird but the fact is that you can really taste the paper flavor of a filter that is not bleached.
You are now ready to measure out your coffee and brew. I recommend using one tablespoon of fresh grounds per cup of coffee that you are going to make until you have an idea of how strong you like your personal cup. Enjoy your own handcrafted cup of coffee, and I will be back next month to discuss different methods of brewing, to bring out even more flavors of your newly found coffee!