This an easy project and a great way to cover up your windows, this idea would look wonderful in a loft apartment or kitchen.

Tools:
Burlap Coffee Bags : as many as you will need to cover your window(s).
Grommets : You can get these at any crafting or home supply store.
Raffia ribbon (optional, you can use any ribbon that you would like)
Grommet Maker

The best place to pick up your burlap coffee bags is online, a great website is http://www.greenbeanery.ca or ebay. Once you have purchased your coffee bags in the quantity that you need them you are ready to start your curtains.

Lay out your burlap bags back side down and lay them out side by side until you have the width that you need. Next lay them top to bottom until you have the length that you need.

Once you have the size that you want it’s time to insert your grommets. Once you have your panels laid out side by side and top to bottom to get the length you need to attach the grommets in the corners of each panel make sure they are not to close to the edge of the bag. You can choose how many grommets you would like to use to attach the curtains it’s a creative decision as well as the more grommets the more privacy.

Once each of your panels are attached you need to link each long rectangle of burlap bag curtains together so they will move freely on a rod and close. You can use various items for this including shower curtain hooks as there are so many varieties including beautiful metal ones, or you can use metal key chains the beaded kind.

These also make amazing movable walls if you live in an open concept apartment or loft these will run beautifully on any track system.

Then all you need to do is hang your curtains with cafe clips and your done. You gather your curtains together with the straw raffia ribbon and in no time at all you have made homemade burlap coffee curtains.

I love these curtains and have made quite a few for various people over the years, one thing i like about using recycled or used coffee burlap bags is the often slight coffee smell that accompanies them for a while. It is so nice to wake up in them morning smelling that faint fresh coffee smell. This does leave over time but it one of the little qualities of the these curtains while it lasts.

Brewing (drip machines)

A drip machine is the most common coffee maker out there, it is quick and easy to use. In order to get that perfect cup of java here are few tips.

1. Buy the right filters. There are many types of filters and often it will say right in the owner’s manual of your coffee maker which filter and the corresponding number to purchase. You can get away with other filters but the quality of the coffee will not be as good as it could be with the right filter.

2. Coffee to Water Ratio: This depends a great deal on how strong you enjoy your coffee. For light coffee drinkers keeping the water to coffee ratio even is best. For those that like their coffee on the stronger side adding an extra spoon or two of coffee is the solution.

3.The right spoon: Most coffees (Folgers is a good one) comes with a scooping spoon. You can also buy these for very cheap at most retail stores. They will help with measuring the correct amount of coffee. Most drip makers are marked on the carafe with how many cups you can make. One spoon to one cup is average, six cups then six spoonfuls. If you do not have the fancy coffee spoon then the average one leveled tablespoon per cup is best.

4.Flavoured Coffees: If you are looking for that Irish Cream or vanilla flavored coffee stop the hunt now. Flavored coffees you find in the grocery stores are usually the below average coffee over flavored to hide the chemical fumes that have seeped in during transport. Since the coffee used in the flavored coffees are not a high grade they are transported poorly. If you really want a good flavored cup of coffee you can buy flavor oils and flavor your own individual cup after the coffee is poured.

-another alternative to flavoring coffee is spice it up! Use a combo of a pinch of cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg, and a pinch of all spice throw that right into the coffee grinds before you place it in the filter. Then let the coffee brew with all those spices and you will be delighted at the taste. Also just cinnamon is nice too.

5.Instant: When making instant remember one teaspoon of coffee per cup of water.

6.Sugar and cream please: sugar and cream are what adds the calories in a cup of coffee for alternatives consider honey and skim milk.

Tip: When brewing coffee add a pinch of salt to the coffee and mix before adding the grinds to the filter this will greatly decrease the bitter taste of the coffee.

Coffee can be a soothing an exhilarating addition to life but only when made correctly, everyone knows the horrible taste of a bitter badly made cup of coffee is not the best way to start the day. These tips will serve you well on your next coffee making endeavour.

Its understandable. After all, its just a useless brown paper coffee bag isn’t it?  Well. I feel differently. And I’d like you to  consider the following: Everyday people the world over are waking up. They are craving their morning cup.. Its such an exceptionally valuable commodity that people are willing to do almost anything to get it. Don’t tell me you haven’t searched your couch cushions to find some coin for your morning brew. Don’t tell me your haven’t raided your hubbies wallet on your way out the door. Its all okay as an avid drinker myself I understand. However, you dear reader now have something to understand. That is -Without the java sack to hold our precious beans we’d be out a key item of sacred our morning ritual..

Imagine that light thump gently waking your ears as the bag drops from your hand to the counter top. The sensation of the top unfurling as you loosen the clips.  The texture of the cafe bag in your hand as you take your first inhale of its glorious morning scent. Its orgasmic.  We would have none of this if we were keeping our joe in boring containers.Containers that aren’t near as flexible as the  bag nor as ascetically pleasing. Not to mention that without the coffee sac our un-brewed buddies would grow stale and flavorless!

Now do you understand?? The mocha poke is as important to the joe drinker as every other aspect of this wonderful any time of day ritual.

Rituals aside, the java sac is also reusable and can be made with recycled materials. Its green friendly. Its doing more on a daily basis to save our planet then the average human. We could clearly take a lesson from the  pouches way in the word.

If I haven’t convinced you that coffee bags deserve our respect then I have clearly failed. If however even one of you  have come to realize what a vital and important role the coffee bag has to play in your life then I say wait no more!  Find one of the useful suppliers listed on my site and go to them. They will provide you with the coffee bag your precious brown beans deserve.