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Do you set resolutions for the new year? I typically don’t, but this year has been tough enough and maybe a few good resolutions would do us some good! I always aim to learn something new everyday and there’s no time than today to start broadening your horizons!
Don’t forget to grab your FREE copy of the Coffee Roast & Brew Guide! It has all of the secrets to brewing great coffee at home, with a bonus of showing you how to pair your coffee with different foods so you can enjoy coffee anytime and not just in the morning. Plus you’ll get on my monthly newsletter where I share new coffee spots, exclusive recipes, and other tips to make great coffee right at home!
Upgrade or purchase a grinder
So if you’ve been around a hot minute, you know how passionate I am about grinding your coffee beans. It’s amazing how much difference a good, quality grinder can make to the flavor of your coffee. Look for an affordable burr grinder, preferably ceramic, and play with the grind settings.
Find more of my coffee bar essentials here.
Buy locally roasted coffee
Buying locally roasted coffee does several things, but most importantly you’re supporting a local business owner and a fellow neighbor. Small business owners need our support now more than ever as the pandemic has hit them the hardest, specifically the restaurant industry. If you live in a small town, check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any businesses they know of that roast locally. Live in a big city? A simple google search of “locally roasted coffee near me” should yield you some good choices.
Tip your barista
I mentioned before that the pandemic has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard. Many businesses had to donate or discard food items and many folks who are working for minimum wage were laid off for months, in some states.
Since their return to work, many baristas and other restaurant workers are working reduced schedules due to a reduction in traffic. If you can afford to tip a couple extra bucks, do it. I make it a point to always tip 20% now and more if I received great service. Leaving a good tip is one of the easiest resolutions for the New Year.
Make coffee at home
Not only will you save money, but you’ll learn that you really prefer coffee the way it was meant to be consumed; without sugary additives to produce artificial flavors. While fancy drinks are awesome, they are expensive. It’s not unheard of to spend $7-9 on a coffee drink these days. Those are of course the fancy drinks; average price of a cup of plain coffee will set you back $2.50-$3.00 depending on the city. Making coffee at home is considerably cheaper and better quality, coming in at almost $1.00 a cup.
Here are some fancy drink recipes you can try out! Let me know what other ones you’d like me to experiment with! I’m always looking for new ones!
Quit big name coffee companies
I have all but quit big name coffee companies and there are some I just will not ever go into again, even if it’s the last one on earth. My coffee palate deserves better. Call me a snob, but once you drink better coffee, you’ll never go back. Local coffee shops are growing in all places, even here in Las Vegas. When we moved here in 2009, a Starbucks was on every corner. It took me months to even find a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Now? I can find a small local coffee shop just about in every retail area.
One of my coffee resolutions for the new year? Visit one a week. So by the end of 2021, we should have 52 new coffee shops for you all to visit when you come to Vegas next!
Savor your coffee
Seriously. Take time to really taste the flavors that your coffee produces. You probably find some chocolate hidden in there or some coconut, or maybe some sweet citrus. This is the beginning of refining your palate to taste all of the natural flavors the type of coffee bean has. And when you’re ready, leave out the cream and sugar. Trust me.
Reduce your carbon footprint
One thing we know is that the coffee shop industry has created a lot of waste. To-go cups, whether paper or plastic, create an incredible amount of waste and can be minimized by using a ceramic mug or a reusable travel mug. My guess is with the pandemic, not many places are accepting a reusable travel mug as an option, so give yourself an extra 10 minutes before you have to leave for work and make yourself a delicious cup of coffee. Make what you need by using a manual brewing method like a pour over or french press.
Conclusion
So there ya have it. Seven simple coffee resolutions for the new year you can put to use right now! Make sure you subscribe to get your FREE Coffee Roast & Brew Guide and I’ll help you stay true to these new year resolutions along with giving you first look at new recipes before anyone else! Follow me on Facebook for coffee funny’s and to see how I stay true to these resolutions! Come on in! There’s always room in the cafe!
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