If you are like most coffee drinkers, you almost certainly think you’re already getting an awesome sit down elsewhere. However odds are you could probably still improve the quality by following these eleven steps:
Use Quality Coffee Beans
Stay out of the food markets! OK that is clearly a serious statement, but seriously usually do not buy coffee beans at the grocery store. Nobody knows when it was roasted and that is a critical, key point in coffee freshness. These beans are recognized for being stale, whether they come in the gravity bins (especially stale!) or bagged (usually stale!). No one really knows how long the beans have been around in the bins or bags. Buy your coffee from an area independent coffee shop or artisan coffee roaster that can verify the roasting date. This can be the only way to know you are buying freshly roasted coffee beans of gourmet quality. Their reputation is at risk so they strive for the best quality coffee freshly roasted.
SimpleD9.com Remove your beans from the initial bag and devote an airtight container like Tupperware or Glad Ware. The more opaque the container, the higher to help keep harmful light out. Extreme light like keeping coffee in a glass jar on the sink can cause deterioration of your beans, allowing your final sit down elsewhere to taste flat or stale.
Do not store in the freezer or refrigerator. Keep them within an airtight container in an awesome, dry and dark place such as a cupboard or pantry. Refrigerators harbor many odors and coffee is very porous. It will become a sponge to odors whether it’s ground or whole bean. Freezers could cause freezer burn, and the flavor oils to crack and lose flavor. These oils are where the flavor is. Storing in the freezer freezes the top condensation each and every time the coffee is removed from the freezer.
Excess moisture may cause your beans to stale faster and shorten the life span of your coffee so a cool, dry and dark place it recommended for storage.
Proper Grind and Grind RIGHT BEFORE Using
The grind of the coffee matters. Your coffee should be ground for the type of brewing method you are using. Coarse for French press and single serve, fine for espresso. The in between matter but also for most auto-drip makers your grind should be just finer than coarse and therefore when you rub it in the middle of your fingers the grinds should feel much like typical bread crumbs. Espresso grinds should feel like somewhere between sugar and powdered sugar. Also, by using a burr grinder your coffee will receive less friction when compared to a typical blade grinder giving your grinds less chance to get scorched during grinding.
Coffee is very porous and can absorb odors and air (oxygen) extremely fast. Oxygen will make your coffee taste really bad! So, the longer your coffee is ground and not used the longer it has to stale and make a bad cup.
Measure Properly
Weigh your coffee before you grind it. To make a good, well-rounded sit down elsewhere you should use approximately.75oz (22g) of coffee beans to every 8oz of cool water. It is possible to +/- to taste but this is a good starting point.
Purified Water at Precise Temperature
Fresh, clean plain tap water (purified is best) or quality spring water is recommended. Do not use mineral water, distilled water or plain tap water with any kind of odor. It will make your coffee taste bad. The water ought to be between 195-205 degrees when ready to brew. As of this temperature, the coffee will get proper extraction to optimize the flavor oils and caramelized sugars in the coffee bean. That is hard to accomplish with most home brewers because the heating elements aren’t heat adjustable nor are they reliable to heat to the proper temperature at all. Good home coffee brewers will cost about $200 but are really worth it and last a lot longer. If you can, try the single cup pour over methods available or other brewing methods such as for example French press or siphon. The taste difference is remarkable. Google search each way for more information.
Brew Just Enough to Drink
Letting your brewed coffee sit waiting isn’t a good idea. And more so please don’t let it take a seat on the hot plate! This can be a great way to cook your coffee. Constant ‘keep warm’ mode like this will make it taste bitter. When you have to brew several cup and are not going to finish is right away, get an airpot of air tight hot container to help keep it in. Still drink it in a hour or so nonetheless it will buy your additional time.