For most college students, caffeine is a crucial component to survival, and coffee, as many know, is one of the best sources of caffeine. The problem is finding a quality cup of coffee.

Anyone can put grounds in a filter, pour water in a coffee maker and press start. But making a really good cup of coffee requires more knowledge and care. An easy solution would be going to a café and having someone with experience make your coffee. But even this solution does not guarantee a quality cup, although paying $4 should be considered a guarantee. Your barista, the person making your coffee, might still be developing their craft or simply care more about making a quick cup rather than a quality one.

Almost every coffee shop will say that if you don’t like your drink, they will make you a new one. But then you end up feeling like a jerk. Just remember, you paid $4 for a cup of coffee. It should taste the way you like it.

Five years of my life were spent working in three different coffee shops. Two are very well-known establishments. I’ve seen the behind-the-scenes carelessness with which coffee drinks can be made. There are really good baristas who work quickly and with precision, but good baristas are typically the ones with the most experience. Good baristas care about the product they serve. They know a shot of espresso, the root of any latte, cappuccino or Americano, should typically brew between 20 and 25 seconds. They know how to adjust the espresso grind in order to achieve the desired brew time. They know the difference between good froth and bad froth. Froth is created as milk is steamed. It sits atop steamed milk, which is used to make lattes and cappuccinos. Good froth should have a smooth consistency; foamy, but not bubbly.

If you enjoy flavored drinks, then you probably won’t notice a difference from cup to cup. Flavoring disguises a bad brew. But if you prefer a cappuccino, latte, espresso, Americano or regular coffee, then you may have noticed an inconsistency in quality. And unless you favor a plain and simple cup of coffee or you have an espresso machine at home, you depend on a good barista to support your coffee fix.

For those who enjoy the simplicity of a cup of Joe, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind to improve your home brew. Use filtered water; the better the water, the better the overall taste, as coffee is more than 90 percent water. Always buy fresh, whole beans. Pre-ground beans taste stale and flat. The moment beans are ground they begin releasing aromatic properties which critically affect flavor. So it is best to grind beans right before you brew. And store your beans at room temperature in a sealed container. The measurement of beans is also crucial, but it is not an exact science.

Some people prefer strong coffee, some don’t. Although measurement does affect the strength of coffee, it is not advisable to use measurement as a means to affect the strength of coffee. One to two tablespoons of coffee grounds equals one cup. Using too few grounds will result in a dirty water taste, too many grounds and you’ll be drinking murky, bitter muck. If you want stronger-tasting coffee, you should buy darker roasted beans. But take note: darker roasts have less caffeine than lighter roasts. Because darker roasts are roasted longer, more caffeine is eliminated.

A cup of coffee is only as good as you make it. Therefore, a good cup of coffee requires knowledge and care. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to coffee, but a quality brew, no matter what you mix in afterwards, is universal.