On the surface, making your own coffee seems like a simple enough task. However, there are so many things you need to pay attention to when brewing your java in order to optimise extraction, texture, and flavour.
Here are some key rules you will need to follow if you want to make a luscious cup of coffee.
Rules You Need To Follow To Make Great Coffee
Avoid Choosing Subpar Coffee Beans
Not all coffee beans are made equal. The ones you choose greatly determine how good your eventual coffee will be. For this reason, we highly recommend you avoid cheap low – quality beans and instead opt for speciality Arabica coffee beans. Not only are the resulting coffees more delicious, but they are also richer and generally healthier for your body.
Other than buying speciality coffee, you must also pay attention to coffee freshness. The fresher your beans are, the more superior your coffee will taste. Coffee beans usually stay fresh for only 2 to 3 weeks after roasting, so avoid buying them from supermarkets where they usually sit for months. Instead, buy freshly roasted beans directly from a reputable coffee shop or roaster.
Lastly, we also suggest you purchase whole beans instead of pre – ground coffee. This is because ground coffee has a larger surface area which means it will come into contact with more air, resulting in the product losing its freshness extra quickly.
Select A Coffee Brewer That Is Ideal For You
There are many ways you can brew coffee. Each method has its own upsides and downsides, so you will need to do a bit of trial and error to figure out which brewing technique results in the best coffee for you. Coffee brewers can be categorised into a few different categories.
The first type is immersion brewing, where coffee grounds and water sit together for a number of minutes before being strained. This type of brewing results in richly flavoured and full – bodied coffee. An example of immersion brewing is the French Press.
Next we have pour-over brewers, such as the Chemex. This kind of brewing technique will produce a softer and smoother coffee that is perfect for those who like drinking light beverages.
Other than those 2 kinds, we have other brewers that are each very unique. This includes the Aeropress, Moka Pot, as well as the syphon method.
Don’t Just Use Any Water
Coffee is 98% water, so it is clearly a big factor you need to pay attention to if you want delicious coffee. Make sure your coffee is clean and filtered off any magnesium or calcium.
It is also desirable to use water that has a little bit of minerals to aid in bringing out the coffee’s flavour. However, make sure your water does not have too many minerals as this can dilute your drink and destroy its taste profile.
Next, also remember to monitor the temperature of the water used to extract the coffee liquid. Coffee is best extracted when the water is within the temperature range of 90 and 96 degrees Celsius
If the water is hotter than 96 degrees, the extraction process will occur too fast, coffee will be over extracted, and you will end up with a very bitter drink. On the contrary, using water cooler than 90 degrees will slow down the extraction process, causing under extraction, and thus your coffee will be weak and bland.
Use The Golden Coffee – to – Water Ratio
Balancing the amount of water and coffee is key for a perfect cup of joe.
The golden ratio often used by top class cafes and coffee shops for their espresso is 1 gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water. This ratio allows the coffee to be extracted properly and thus will have a balanced taste and consistency.
