There are many ways to brew coffee, and they are all quite different. Each one requires time invested in learning how to brew coffee using that method. That said, there are a few rules that apply to all methods of coffee brewing that you should get to know.

Fresh Beans

Buying bags of beans from the supermarket is certainly a step up from the pre-ground stuff, but the beans are still rather stale by the time they get to the supermarket shelf (let alone your home). Order beans from a roaster and you can ensure that you’re only using beans that were roasted between seven and fourteen days ago.

There’s a lot more to picking beans than freshness, but if you’re still finding out what it takes to make good coffee you should just worry about sourcing fresh beans for now.

A Good Grinder

Get a decent burr grinder. For French press, you should be able to get by with a cheaper one since you need a coarser grind (as long as it’s a fairly consistent grind). For espresso or Turkish coffee, you’ll need to spend a bit more money to get a grind that’s fine enough. Do your research and find out what more experienced coffee connoisseurs think about a model before spending.

The most important thing is that you steer clear of blade or propeller grinders. They produce a terribly inconsistent grind and also produce a lot of dust that will introduce a bitter taste and clog up your espresso machine or filters.

Great Water

Use water that tastes good even before it’s infused with coffee and sweetened with sugar. You can use a water purifier attached to your tap or bottled distilled water. You can use tap water, though it won’t taste quite as good and has a tendency to introduce limescale to the insides of your espresso machine.

Be Careful Where You Store Coffee

Keep your beans in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Don’t put them in your fridge or freezer–the beans will lose their flavor, and worse still, new flavors from other things in the fridge will be introduced. Want a Danish cheese and onion cappuccino in the morning? Yeah, didn’t think so.

Start with the French Press

It costs a lot of money to get started with decent espresso–a high-end burr grinder, a decent machine, assorted accessories such as a tamp with the right weight and fit. Then it takes time to learn and develop the skills required to pull a decent shot. If you’re starting out, get a French press. These devices are something like $20–combine them with a decent grinder and some fresh beans and you’ll be having excellent coffee immediately.