There’s nothing like a fresh cup of coffee from a barista, but it can get expensive to indulge in one every day. There are a few ways to make your own java taste more like that of a coffee house, however. Darren Spicer, cofounder of Clutch Coffee Bar, a drive-through coffee chain headquartered in North Carolina, offers a few tips.

For one, making a big batch of cold brew can last you a few days and give you a smooth coffee with a kick, Spicer says. All you need to do is grab a large mason jar and add one part ground coffee beans to four parts room-temperature water. Cover and leave overnight on the counter. “Then strain the coffee grounds out using a filter, and you’ve got some great cold brew concentrate,” he says.

Here are a few more of Spicer’s ideas to level up your coffee game.

Fresh is best.

Whether making hot or cold coffee, use fresh grounds — always! If you’re grinding the coffee beans yourself, Spicer says, you really need to do it fresh every day for the best taste. If you’re buying pre-ground coffee, it can last a couple of weeks kept in dark location away from air, heat and light.

Create your own foam.

When you top your coffee with sweet foam, the two textures complement each other well, with the richness of the coffee and the light creaminess of the foam. And creating sweet foam at home is easier than you might think, says Spicer.

How? Simply combine two parts milk, three parts heavy cream and sugar to taste. Use a milk frother to blend if you have one, or throw it all in a mason jar and shake vigorously for a few minutes until foamy. “The nice thing is you can adjust it yourself for your palate’s sweetness,” Spicer says.

Chill out.

Make a tray of coffee ice cubes that you can add to your iced coffee. This keeps the flavor bold and won’t water it down if you want to sip on it for a period of time.

Break out the baking spices.

Explore adding warming spices and flavors such as cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom or ginger, if you’re feeling extra creative, to your coffee. An easy upgrade to your at-home cup of joe: Swap out white sugar for brown for a richer, molasses taste.