National Boss's Day comes but once a year. This year it falls on Monday, October 17. Depending on your boss, you could get away with a casual acknowledgment of the occasion, or maybe a signature on a card passed around the department. But it can't hurt to do something a little more special. The simple gesture of offering a truly great cup of coffee at the start of the workday could make you look good and put a helpful spring in your boss's step, giving the entire office reason to thank you. Here are some of our tips on brewing an outstanding cup with minimal effort.
Buy the best beans you can, and keep them fresh. Once you purchase your favorite beans from a local roaster or coffee shop, store them in an airtight container until you're ready to grind and brew.
Rise and grind. Our culinary director, Daniel Gritzer, calls fresh-ground beans "essential for good coffee." Always buy beans whole and grind them yourself as needed. Coffee grounds will inevitably lose their bold flavor faster than you can use them.
Use water you'd want to drink. If you brew your coffee with off-tasting tap water, chances are your coffee will be off-tasting, as well.
Make it nice and strong. For a really solid jolt of caffeine, use two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces (3/4 cup) of water. One tablespoon is perfectly good for a regular cup.
Deliver it hot. No one likes lukewarm coffee, so use a Genuine Thermos® Brand 40 oz. Stainless King Beverage Bottle to keep your coffee extra hot. With double-wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention, it can maintain piping-hot temperatures for up to 24 hours, meaning you can even brew a batch the night before. Making iced coffee instead? It can keep beverages cold for just as long.
If you're really feeling generous, this bottle would make the perfect companion gift to your new-and-improved coffee. But, if we're being honest—since there's no such thing as National Subordinates' Day yet—we'd just as soon recommend you remain the boss of your own, and bring it everywhere for drinks that are as hot or cold as you please.