By: Luke Gregory Boudewyns

September 24, 2025

Life has its simple pleasures. For me, coffee is one of them. If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a good cup but probably don’t love paying more than $5 for it. If you’ve ever wanted to learn what makes coffee so great and how to make delicious coffee at home, this article is for you.

There are many ways to make coffee, and I’ll break down the process in a way that’s easy to understand. Brewing coffee can be therapeutic and calming, and you don’t need to spend much to get started. First, let’s explore what makes coffee so enjoyable. But a word of caution: strong, delicious coffee can be addictive and may heighten anxiety for some people.

So what exactly is coffee? It’s similar to tea. Hot water is poured over ground coffee beans. Technically, coffee beans aren’t beans at all. They’re seeds from the fruit of the coffee plant. One of the most common species is Coffea arabica, a fruit-bearing tree or shrub. Arabica is the most widely marketed variety. Coffea canephora, or Robusta, is another popular type.

You may have heard the origin legend. A farmer in Ethiopia noticed his goats acting unusually energetic after eating certain berries. Curious, he tried them himself but found them bitter. He tossed them into a fire pit, and as he packed up to leave, he caught the aroma of the roasting seeds. He fished them out and brewed a tea. And thus, coffee was born.

Whether or not that story is true doesn’t matter. Neither do the endless debates over African versus South American coffee. If you’re just starting to develop your taste, what matters is finding what you enjoy. Coffee is like wine. Some prefer it light and clear. Others prefer it dark and bitter. There are countless ways to brew it. Grind size, water temperature, coffee-to-water ratio, and brew time all play a role. Cold brew is also trending, but I’ll cover that in a future article.

So what makes coffee so great, addictive, and American? The answer is caffeine. Caffeine wakes us up and keeps us alert by blocking adenosine, a compound that signals sleepiness to the brain. It also boosts dopamine, which helps us feel good. That’s why it’s hard to quit once you’ve formed the habit.

Caffeine affects everyone differently, and it’s important to understand how long it stays in your system. Its half-life is about six hours. If you drink 100 mg of caffeine at 6 a.m., you’ll still have 50 mg in your body at noon and 25 mg by 6 p.m. That “2 o’clock feeling” comes as caffeine levels drop. Drinking more coffee late in the day can disrupt sleep. For those sensitive to it, caffeine may increase anxiety. But in moderation, it’s less likely to cause adverse effects.

A cup or two in the morning can be beneficial. Caffeine increases blood flow and helps regulate basic bodily functions. Coffee is also one of the leading sources of antioxidants in the American diet. Decaf contains the same antioxidants, though without the kick.

Fun fact: Coffee’s popularity in the U.S. surged after the Boston Tea Party. When colonists dumped more than 100,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxes, many Americans switched to coffee as their caffeine source of choice. Coffee also played a role in wartime. Soldiers were often given daily rations to fuel long marches and battles.

Now that you know a bit about coffee, you might be wondering how to find or make a great cup. I’ll cover home brewing methods in my next article. But for now, here are some tips for buying delicious coffee at a café.

I tend to avoid large franchises, as their sourcing practices aren’t always transparent. Small, local cafés are usually best. You can spot them easily. They often focus solely on coffee, and you’ll smell the quality of their beans as soon as you walk in. These places try to source ethically, though global trade makes single-origin sourcing tricky. At the very least, look for cafés that use local roasters. For example, Peace Coffee is a Minnesota-based roaster commonly found in the Twin Cities area.

So what should you order? The best option is a pour-over, which offers the richest flavor profile. If that’s not available, look for a café with an espresso machine. Espresso uses a finer grind, extracting more caffeine and flavor. A good café should be able to tell you what roasts they offer, such as light, medium, or dark. They should also grind beans fresh before brewing.

If you want something bold, try an espresso or an Americano, which is espresso with water. An espresso with a splash of milk is called a cortado or macchiato, depending on the ratio and preparation. A latte is espresso with more milk, and a mocha adds chocolate. A cappuccino includes frothed milk. I don’t usually recommend drip coffee at cafés, but if you need a quick caffeine fix, order a drip with a shot of espresso.

My top recommendation is to find a café that offers pour-overs and ask to watch them make it. A good barista will be happy to show you.

In my next article, I’ll explain how to make delicious coffee at home. You might be surprised by how quick, easy, and affordable it can be. I’ll also cover grind sizes and share my humble opinion on what coffee to buy at the store.