Here are 3 simple tips that will make a difference in every single cup you drink.

Tip #1 Clean Coffee Pot

A clean pot is essential and can make a world of difference in taste of your coffee. Old oils from previous batches of coffee and soap residue left on pot makes coffee taste bad.

Baking soda and water work well for cleaning coffee mugs and pots. Be sure to rinse extra good so no residue is left behind.

Tip #2 Clean Filtered Water

The water you use for your coffee will affect taste more than anything. Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that will affect taste of your coffee.

Using stainless steel or gold mesh filters instead of paper filters will also make your coffee taste better.

Paper filters release dyes, chlorine and bleach that affect taste. If you insist on using paper filters buy unbleached, brown paper filters.

Tip #3 Use Fresh Quality Coffee

Quality coffee costs more but will consistently produce better tasting coffee.

First off, it’s important to start with cold milk that’s just out of fridge. Pour milk into steaming pitcher until it is just about 1/3 of way full. Milk will double to triple in volume after frothing process. A stainless steel pitcher works best. It will dissipate some of heat, allowing more time to infuse air into milk before milk gets too hot.

Also use a thermometer to get milk to correct temperature of 145 degrees. There are many thermometers made for this purpose that will clip onto side of pitcher for convenience.

The Technique: Purge steam wand onto a damp towel by releasing valve for a few seconds. Be very careful not to burn yourself, steam will be extremely hot. This purging will get all of water out so you don’t get it in your milk.

Next, submerge wand into milk and quickly turn steam on full power. Avoid letting tip of wand come out of milk. This will cause splattering and create large, tasteless bubbles.