If you are like the majority of coffee drinkers, you almost certainly think you are already getting an awesome sit down elsewhere. However odds are that you may probably still enhance 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 coffees at the grocery store. Nobody knows when it had been roasted and that is a critical, key point in coffee freshness. These beans are known for being stale, whether they come in the gravity bins (especially stale!) or bagged (usually stale!). No-one really knows just how long the beans have been around in the bins or bags. Purchase your coffee from a location independent restaurant or artisan coffee roaster that can verify the roasting date. It is the only way to know you’re buying freshly roasted coffee beans of gourmet quality. Their reputation is at risk so they strive for the best quality coffee freshly roasted.
Store Properly Remove your beans from the initial bag and put in an airtight container like Tupperware or Glad Ware. The more opaque the container, the better 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 cup of coffee to taste flat or stale.
Do not store in the freezer or refrigerator. Keep them in an airtight container in a cool, dry and dark place such as a cupboard or pantry. Refrigerators harbor many odors and coffee is quite porous. It will become a sponge to odors be it 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 time the coffee is taken out of the freezer.
Excess moisture may cause your beans to stale faster and shorten living of your coffee so an awesome, dry and dark place it recommended for storage.
Proper Grind and Grind RIGHT BEFORE Using
The grind of the coffee matters. Your coffee ought to be ground for the type of brewing method you’re using. Coarse for French press and single serve, fine for espresso. The among 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 similar to 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 possiblity to get scorched during grinding.
Coffee is very porous and can absorb odors and air (oxygen) extremely fast. Oxygen can make your coffee taste really bad! So, the longer your coffee is ground rather than used the longer it has to stale and make a bad cup.
Measure Properly
Weigh your coffee before you grind it. To create a good, well-rounded cup of coffee you should use approximately.75oz (22g) of coffee beans to every 8oz of cold water. It is possible to +/- to taste but this can be a good starting point.
Purified Water at Precise Temperature
Fresh, clean tap water (purified is best) or quality spring water is recommended. Do not use mineral water, distilled water or tap water with any type of odor. It’ll make your coffee taste bad. The water ought to be between 195-205 degrees when prepared to brew. As of this temperature, the coffee will get proper extraction to optimize the flavor oils and caramelized sugars inside the coffee bean. That is hard to accomplish with most home brewers as the heating elements are not heat adjustable nor are they reliable to heat to the proper temperature at all. Good home coffee brewers will definitely 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 French press or siphon. The taste difference is remarkable. Google search each method for more information.
Brew SUFFICIENT to Drink
Letting your brewed coffee sit waiting isn’t a good idea. And much more so please do not let it sit on the hot plate! This can be a good way to cook your coffee. Constant ‘keep warm’ mode like this can make it taste bitter. If you have to brew multiple cup and are not likely to finish is right away, get an airpot of air tight hot container to keep it in. Still drink it in a hour or so nonetheless it will buy your more time.
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