Do you wonder why your coffee at home doesn't taste much like the brews at your favorite coffeehouse? There's a reason. In fact, there are many reasons. See if these tips don't make a noticeable difference.

• The Water - Coffee is 98.7% water. Poor quality water from your local municipality is a top reason coffee at home is not good. Most coffeehouses, including our own, use sophisticated water filtration systems that "clean up" the water before it gets to the brewer. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars, you have some options. Some coffee maker manufacturers now make machines with built-in water filters. Capresso is one such company, featuring disposable charcoal filters. A second option is to put a water filter on your kitchen faucet. A third option is to use a system like Brita and use that water for brewing.
• The Grinder - Purchase your coffee in whole bean form and grind it yourself at home. The smell is phenomenal and it's easy. The two types of grinders available are the "whirlybird" style and the Burr grinder. The former chops the coffee beans unevenly and is hard to control. A burr grinder is much more precise and doesn't heat the beans while grinding. Heat causes loss of flavor and aroma. Whirleybirds are cheap, $10-$25. Burr grinders usually start at about $60 if the burrs are metal. This is critical.
• The Grind - Some people grind their coffee very fine thinking they can use less. Very finely ground coffee results in over extraction and bitter coffee. Experiment with your grinder to see what tastes best for you. Start with a medium grind.
• The Maker - You don't need to spend $200 on a coffee maker to get a good cup of coffee. The models with a filter built-in, or they grind and brew, or they wake you up with soft music (just kidding), will cost more. However, low end coffee makers have trouble keeping the water at proper brewing temperature (197-203 degrees) and rarely come with a thermal carafe. Key Point: Coffee sitting on a warming surface keeps cooking. It is pretty much ruined after 20 minutes. Thermal carafes are insulated containers that retain heat like a thermos. The best are double-walled stainless steel with a vacuum between the two walls.
• The Beans- All of the above tips matter little if you start with a poor quality product. We roast and deliver to our local O'Henry's up to 5 times a week. Make sure your source of beans is credible for initial quality of the beans, and how fresh they are. Ground coffee after 2 weeks tastes much different then whole bean coffee, just ground, that is two days old.
• How Much - The coffee to water ratio is up to you and to your personal taste. 1-2 tablespoons per 6 ounces of water is a start.