How many times have you brewed a cup of coffee first thing in the morning only to find it watery and lacking the taste of coffee brewed by a barista?
You are not alone. And no matter what you believe, a barista-brewed coffee does not taste good because of the barista’s training. It doesn’t even have to do anything with the swanky equipment they use.
So what is the secret to brewing a great coffee and avoiding bitter garbage?
It is simple.
Simply follow these tips to elevate your coffee-brewing game and become a start enjoying great morning cuppa.
Always Use Whole Beans
I can’t emphasize enough how important coffee beans are to brewing a perfect morning cuppa.
The foundation of barista-like coffee is good quality beans. All beans are not good. The quality varies depending on how fresh they are and where were they sourced from.
Ground coffee lacks essential oils that impart coffee its unique taste and smell. Grinding beans before making coffee is the only way to preserve the oils as they evaporate quickly.
If you’ve had your beans for a while, there’s a good chance they have gone stale. You may need to roast them before use.
Store Them Right
As chemical structures of coffee beans start to change after a few weeks, it is best to brew them fresh. Unless you are willing to buy a very small amount of coffee every day, you need to find a way to keep your beans fresh.
It perfectly makes sense to buy your coffee beans in small quantity. Try to order one bag of coffee at a time and use it up before buying a new one.
For best results, invest in a good quality dark coloured air-tight container that will keep air out while beans are waiting to be used. Keep your beans in the container locked in a closed-door to prevent sunlight from damaging your coffee.
And remember, never try to store coffee beans for too long. No matter what you do, they will eventually go bad.
Always Clean Your Equipment
Old coffee grounds and stale water that’s left in your coffee machine can quickly spoil your coffee. You should consider cleaning your coffee machine regularly to get rid of any old coffee grounds that could impact the taste of the coffee.
You don’t have to do it after every single brew, but keep your equipment clean not only ensures better-tasting coffee but can also enhance the lifespan of your equipment.
Use Better Water
You may not realize it, but the quality of water directly impacts the taste of your brew. Unfiltered tap water contains chemicals such as chlorine and fluoride that can react with coffee and alter its taste.
Try using filtered water, or at least purchase a water filter that will eliminate the chemicals and excessive hardness. A reverse osmosis system takes care of everything for you by removing the most common contaminants present in water.
Check the Temperature
To get better results, you would want to maintain temperatures in the range of 90-97°C.
When using a coffee maker, determine if it’s heating water to the right temperature. If not, you will have to adjust the settings. If this is not possible, you might consider upgrading your machine.
Follow Consistent Coffee to Water Ratio
Now that you’ve sorted your water, you must know how much coffee to use. It’s impossible to perfect your coffee to water ratio if you’re guessing it.
A golden ratio that has been agreed by coffee lovers is 1 gram of coffee to 15-18 grams of water. This ratio works perfectly as it achieves two things:
- Strength – Ensures the flavours are balanced, not too strong or weak.
- Flavour – Creates balanced extraction, not too bitter or sour.
If you are looking for a stronger coffee, try 1:15 ratio.
It’s more coffee per water, so it would be more concentrated and less extracted. On the other hand, if you want a lighter coffee, try 1:18 ratio. It’s more water per coffee, so it would be less concentrated and more extracted.
Take the guesswork out of your brew. Weigh your coffee every time to yield an accurate measurement of coffee to water ratio.
Equip your kitchen with a scale that will help you replicate the flavours of your favourite cup of coffee each time.
