How do you make the perfect cup of coffee at home? How much coffee should you drink and at what time? For every question that a coffee lover has, there's an app or website to answer it here.

Coffee is a necessary kickstarter for millions of people in the world, whether at the start of the morning or before any major task. And for others, it's a passion and a hobby. No matter which category you fall under, you have to check out these apps and blogs.

1. BrewTime (Android, iOS): Prepare a Perfect Cup of Coffee

BrewTime is a companion app that guarantees it will help you prepare a perfect cup of coffee. It works with several popular brewing techniques and uses instructions and guidelines from coffee expert Scott Rao.

Let's say you want to use a French press coffee. Start BrewTime and go to FrenchPress. A brief screen tells you about the method and which types of coffees it is recommended for. Then start the FrenchPress to get step-by-step instructions on brewing the perfect pot.

All the steps are listed, and a timer counts down with each step as you follow the instructions. Once you're done, you can take a picture of your hot cuppa and post it on Instagram. And you can keep a log of all your coffee consumption with the Timeline feature.

The app currently supports V60, Aeropress, French press, Che max, Moka, Vacuum pot, and clever dipper brewing methods. More will be added as the app updates. It's one of the best coffee apps for homes and offices.

Download: BrewTime for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Omnicalculator's Coffee Kick (Web): How Much Coffee Do You Need?

You aren't going to want to hear this, but yes, there is a thing as too much coffee. More than that, if you depend on that caffeine kick to be alert and ready for a task, you need to have coffee at the right time. Omnicalculator has a smart tool to tell you when you should drink that cup and how much.

Coffee Kick asks how long you've slept, what time you woke up, and how many drinks of coffee you have already had in the day. You need to input the type of coffee, how many cups, and the time you had it. Based on that, Coffee Kick will chart the times of the day when you will be at peak alertness.

It sounds a little crazy, but it actually worked when I tested it. For the sake of terrible science that shouldn't trick my brain, I even separately charted when I had coffee and when I felt most alert, and compared it with the app. It was almost exact. I'm guessing that the more I use the app and understand its estimates and requirements, the more accurate it will be.

3. Home Grounds (Web): Make Professional-Level Coffee at Home

Home Grounds is the coffee guide that any amateur coffee enthusiast needs. It has simple guides on brewing techniques, coffee beans, the best gear, and coffee recipes for anyone who wants to level-up their home coffee game.

Their beginner's guide to Pour Over coffee is often cited as the best introductory resource for anyone who wants to learn the technique. Similarly, the coffee beans guide serves as a great starting point for anyone who cares about the quality of their coffee. Also, the Gear guides are updated for the current year, whether it's machines, grinders, or anything else.

The writing is crisp and the instructions are simple enough for anyone. Home Grounds offers practical tips for people without special equipment, like how to get the perfect temperature of water without a thermometer.

4. Barista Institute's Recipes (Web): Expert and Varied Coffee Recipes

Would you like to know how to make a cold brew lemonade? A Christmas latte? A freakshake? Or maybe you want to make just the perfect cup of cappuccino, as recommended by experts? The Paulig Barista Institute has every possible coffee recipe you can think of, and even many that you'd never think of.

Naturally, all the recipes are made by professional barista trainers, and follow the standard recipe format of ingredients and instructions, without any of the frills that a food blogger adds. There's a powerful search engine to find what you need, but I preferred browsing through the list to find some inspiration.

Now, these aren't recipes that you'd need for that caffeine boost in the morning. And several of the recipes need ingredients or equipment that you might not have at home.

5. Coffee Geek (Web): The Internet's Coffee Encyclopedia

Coffee Geek is the destination of choice for those who consider themselves more advanced than the regular coffee aficionado. Functioning since 2000, it is virtually the internet's encyclopedia for any coffee-related information. But beginners will find it a bit overwhelming.

There are three main resources: how-to's and guides, expert reviews, and consumer reviews. The first two are, as you might expect, thorough, detailed, and could be considered the final word on the subject.

The third one is interesting as it's not easy to get consumer reviews from coffee lovers like yourself. After all, how much can you trust those Amazon customer reviews for your own tastes? With the variety of coffee products out there, it's great to hear these opinions.

And as you might have guessed, these reviews are a natural extension of a robust and active forum of coffee lovers, so dive into those discussion boards if you want more information or help.

 You Don't Need Caffeine

A combination of these resources should help you have a better "cup of Joe" than ever before. But with Omnicalculator's Coffee Kick and BrewTime's timeline, you might be surprised to know how often you drink coffee without needing it for a wake-up kick.

The caffeine kick is an essential reason for many people to have that cup of coffee. That said, you might not need it as much as you think. If you want to reduce your dependence on a cup of joe, read this guide on how to boost your brain without caffeine.