Since there are several boycotts against Coffee chains right now (mainly Starbucks, Dunkin’ and McDonald’s), there has been an uptick in folks interested in making coffee at home.

As someone who has a whole decked out coffee station in my apartment, and who has coffee as a special interest, I figure now is a good time to share some of my best (and accessible) coffee tips for folks looking to caffeinate without giving money to corrupt corporations. 

1. Basic machines are fine!

To make hot coffee at home, all you really need is a basic drip coffee maker. Since they are old technology now, you can usually get a decent size machine for fifteen to twenty dollars. 

If you want to make iced coffee, I recommend brewing a whole pot, cooling the coffee for about ten minutes, and then placing it into a pitcher with a couple pinches of salt. The salt will help cut the bitterness that coffee will develop in the fridge. 

If you are looking for good ground coffees to buy that aren’t being boycotted, I recommend New England Coffee! They are available online and are on the more affordable end of the spectrum. Try mixing dark and medium roasts to have a less acidic drink.

2. Invest in 1-2 syrups and/or learn how to make your own!

If you are someone like myself who prefers flavored coffee, I suggest investing in a couple small bottles of syrup. You can shop from brands like Torani or Da Vinci. 

I highly recommend starting with basic flavors, like vanilla or caramel. Small bottles of these syrups will typically run you five to seven dollars each, so they tend to be fairly affordable. 

You can also find a recipe for pretty much any flavor you can find in a coffee shop, and most of them consist of a base simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) with additional flavoring added. 

3. No espresso machine, no problem

If you do not own an espresso machine (which you probably don’t), that is not going to stop you from being able to make an espresso-like beverage at home. 

What I do, for the most part, is use my single serve coffee machine with grounds, and fill the filter as if I am making a full cup of coffee. I then measure about 3 to 4 ounces of water and add that to the tank and brew. What comes out is a very strong cup of coffee that will have flavor notes close to espresso. 

I usually drink iced lattes, so I either brew at night time and add a pinch of salt before placing it in the fridge, or brew in the morning and place in the freezer for an hour. When I am ready to drink, I add my desired flavor and sweetener (optional) and then place the coffee over ice and add milk to fill my glass. 

While espresso is unique in flavor, and this suggestion is not technically “espresso”, it will 100% work and taste great! And if anyone wants to tell you “that’s not espresso”, keep on sipping and ignore them!

4. Find copycat recipes to substitute for your favorite drinks

The internet is CHOCK FULL of recipes to replace your trip to the coffee shop, and chances are if there is a drink at one of the major chains you want to recreate, you can find blogs online that share tips on how to make it in your own kitchen. 

Just search “copycat” and then the name of the beverage (or dessert!) you want to make, and have fun!

5. If you can’t make it at home, try small chains or independent local coffee shops

If you can’t (or do not want to) make your coffee at home, I highly recommend checking out your local coffee shops. I have a bunch near me that are delightful, and it is a great way to support smaller businesses and shop locally. 

Do you have any coffee tips? Do you have any other coffee questions? Let me know in the comments!