How To Brew A Great Cup Of Coffee

Putting some water in your coffee maker and waiting a few minutes isn't going to give you great coffe every time. Coffee brewing masters will tell you that a great cup of coffee requires the perfect combination of several elements, including water, temperature, and time.  Getting each element right will lead to a great cup of coffee every time.

What's the best way to brew a perfect cup of coffee?  4 tips to get you started :

Water. Coffee is mostly water, so if the water you use doesn’t taste that great or is hard (full of minerals), your coffee isn’t going to taste that great either.  You should always use filtered water to brew coffee.  This is also important because a water filter will remove minerals from the water that build up in your brewing equipment and cause machine failures and bad taste problems.

Temperature. The ideal brewing temperature for coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.  Water temperatures outside of this range can result in weak or bitter tasting coffee.  Use a steaming thermometer to measure the water temp in your coffee machine.  Many commercial coffee makers allow you to adjust the temperature of the water with the push of a button.  Older machines may need to have parts replaced.

Time. This is the most important factor in determining how the coffee will taste.  The longer water is in contact with the coffee grinds, the more the soluble elements of coffee are absorbed into the water.  This is what gives coffee it’s taste, but the best tasting elements are usually absorbed at the beginning of the brewing process.  The longer water is in contact with coffee grinds, the more compounds that give coffee a bitter or strong taste are absorbed.

Clean surfaces. The surfaces the coffee comes into contact with inside the coffee machine and outside, like decanters, airpots, and cups, can all lend bad tastes to coffee if they aren’t cleaned properly.  The most common problem is lime (mineral) buildup in the coffee machine.  The best way to prevent this, as mentioned above, is to use filtered water.  However, these surfaces should be cleaned regularly to ensure quality coffee every time.

Coffee grounds. The granule size of ground coffee will affect how long it takes to brew.  Very finely ground coffee brews much more quickly than coarsely ground coffee.  Experiment with different coffee grinds until you find one that results in optimum flavor.  The depth of the coffee ground bed in the brewing basket also affects taste.  A bed depth of 1-2 inches is ideal.  A shallow bed will result in weak coffee.  A deep bed will make the water percolate very slowly, which results in bitter coffee.

Getting the right equipment and effectively combining the elements of time, temperature, and water will yield you a great cup of coffee every time.

Filed under: Fresh Coffee Tips

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