A coffee shop owner from Evesham, West Midlands, has shared the four common mistakes that home coffee enthusiasts make, preventing their brew from matching professional standards. Nikola Sasal, who has run Brew Bear Coffee House since 2015, emphasised the importance of getting the right ratio of ingredients.
According to Nikola, many people burn milk by over-steaming it, buy low-quality coffee beans, under or over extract their espresso, or add too much cold milk. These errors result in coffee that is either too bitter or lacking in flavour. She explained: 'Anyone can make a coffee, but that doesn't mean they're making it in the right way.'
For the perfect espresso, Nikola recommends using a good coffee bean blend that is freshly roasted, as stale beans become more bitter. She also advised that for a flat white, one should use 4-5 oz of well-steamed hot milk. 'It's all about having the right ratio of everything, depending on the coffee you're making,' she added.
Nikola also noted a trend of increasing numbers of people choosing coffee shops for first dates. She suggested that after the lunchtime rush is the ideal time for such meetings, recommending a tucked-away corner for a peaceful atmosphere. This observation aligns with survey findings from payment solutions provider SumUp, which indicate that one in four British adults prefer coffee shops for initial dates.
