Tips for Making the Best Tasting Coffee

Coffee is so much more than just a brewed drink; it is a culture, an economy, a sophisticated art, a learning science, and a burning passion for some people. About half the people in the world consume three and a half cups of coffee each day. Besides the unusual taste, coffee is packed with antioxidants and has a variety of health benefits.

You know you love coffee when, the first sip of freshly brewed coffee in the morning helps set your mood right for the day, and being at your favorite coffee shop at the end of the day, momentarily melts your worries. Just as the caffeine smacks your brain, you are more productive and in serenity, all at the same time.

Being a serious coffee drinker, you need to have good coffee, any time of the day. Whether you are new to this brewing experience or an espresso expert, there is always more to learn about coffee tips to perfect your experience.

Making the best tasting coffee requires two elements:

1. The Right Beans And Roast

The freshness of the beans and the roast is important in terms of the flavor profile. If you want a fruity, berry, or tea-like flavor in your coffee, stick to lighter roasts. For a bold and smoky flavor, go for stronger or darker roasts. The best flavors of coffee come in medium roasted beans, which are rich, chocolaty, and everything in between.

2. Get The Smaller Details Right

Coffee has only two ingredients: coffee and water. Therefore, pay attention to details. Don’t just throw everything in the machine and walk away. Try to concentrate during the brewing process; this guarantees the best taste.

Rules to Follow

It can take years of experience to brew the perfect cup of coffee, but few techniques can instantly improve its quality, no matter what coffee machine you have. We have gathered all the coffee tips you need to get a delicious cup of coffee every time. Following these coffee tips will manage to bring an artisan flavor in your drip coffee.

  • Buy Coffee Beans Instead of the Pre-Ground Stuff

Fresh whole beans of coffee have such a nice authentic flavor to them. If you are using pre-ground coffee, you won’t get the same flavor. Avoid buying coffee in bulk from supermarkets. Roasted coffee beans lose flavor in the presence of bright lights and oxygen.

Try to source coffee beans from local coffee shops, most of them roast it freshly on the spot or get them for local roasters who roast in small batches. They are packaged and sold in sturdy, vacuum-sealed bags. This ensures freshness and maximum flavor when used within a couple of days.

You can also source high-quality coffee beans and roast them yourself.

  • Buy Good Quality Coffee

The taste and commercial value of coffee greatly depend on the region and type of variety it’s from.  The two very popular coffee beans on the market are Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are high-quality and offer the best taste. The cheaper alternative of Arabica is Robusta, which has a harsh flavor, but when mixed with Arabica, it provides a good taste.

These coffees can be expensive, but it is okay to splurge a little. Many grocery store brands provide a similar taste, with half the price.

  • Store Your Beans Properly

Coffee beans reach their peak flavor just after days of being roasted, so storing them correctly maximizes freshness duration. A vacuum-sealed container, glass canning jars, ceramic storage crocks with rubber-gasket seals, or tinted air-tight mason jars are best to store coffee.

To keep coffee fresh, buy a week’s supply of roasted beans and try storing portions of them in many small jars instead of one large jar. Keep it away from light at room temperature, and do not refrigerate. Coffee beans are porous; hence they absorb moisture quickly.

  • Be Aware of The Time and Duration of Grinding

Ideally, it is best to grind your coffee beans on the spot, before brewing. Don’t grind and store them all at once. Grinding the beans too coarsely will result in the coffee being tasteless, and grinding them too fine will make them very bitter. Most coffee makers require a medium grind.

A manual hand mill is one of the best ways to grind the coffee; you can keep an eye on the consistency while maintaining flavor and freshness.

  • Use Good Water

It is best to use bottled spring water or activated charcoal/carbon filters on taps; this ensures that the taste of coffee is not ruined. Tap water or distilled water are the worst choices for coffee. The minerals present in good quality water help enhance the taste of the coffee.

  • Keep Your Measurements Correct

Using the same amount of water and coffee will get you the best taste every time. Getting help from a digital scale to measure the amounts won’t take much time; it will also help you remove the guesswork and easily replicate the perfect balance each time. The standard requirement for brewing coffee of proper strength is two tablespoons per 6-ounce cup or about 2 3/4 tablespoons per 8-ounce cup.

  • Choose a Good Filter

The best coffee filters include oxygen-bleached or dioxin-free filter papers. Cheap filter papers yield bad tasting coffee, despite the quality of beans used. So, it is best to invest in a good filter. If you want to invest long term, try buying gold-plated filters. They last more than average and yield good tasting coffee.

  • Don’t Skip the Pre-Infusing Step

Carbon dioxide remains in the beans after they are roasted. To remove it, soak your beans in hot water and allow them to pre-infuse or bloom for about 45 minutes. This removes remaining CO2 and results in stronger, better-tasting coffee. This process can also be done with grounded coffee before brewing.

  • Brewing Temperature Matters

Most coffee machines do not reach optimal brewing temperature. The best brew temperature is between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and a great way to maintain this temperature is by using a thermometer. Try not to take the temperature too high as it will burn the coffee and extract bitter compounds.

Pre-boiling the water will help maintain temperature, but it is best to drink it instantly to get a maximum taste. Reheating will turn the taste bitter.

  • Clean Equipment

Coffee beans have oils, and that could be left in machines. It is best to clean your storage containers and grinders every other day to clean oil buildup. You can use vinegar or coffee-equipment cleaner to wash and rinse your coffee maker every month before reuse.

  • Give Your Coffee A Distinct Flavor

Besides using syrups, coffee can be flavored using ground spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, along with chocolate shavings, honey, and whipped cream, to bring out that extra goodness. Steamed milk can also take your latte or cappuccino experience at home, to the next level. You can buy an electric milk frother or just do it in the microwave.

Final Verdict

The best tasting coffee is all about your taste, preferences, and the ultimate test of trial and error. A lot of experimentation is involved in making a coffee that satisfies your taste. Don’t be afraid to play with grind sizes, coffee roasts, water temperatures, flavors, and brew methods.

These simple tips for making the best tasting coffee will help you get the smooth coffee taste without the unwanted bitterness at home.