7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Making Coffee
Here’s some great tips on how to make coffee correctly, with perfect results every time!
Coffee is the world’s third favourite beverage behind water and tea, with over 2 billion cups enjoyed every day. Brewing a cup seems like a simple enough task, but why is it that making it at home isn’t the same as going into your local coffee shop?
Mastering the art of coffee making is less about the fancy gadgets available and more about your technique. A gorgeous morning coffee can be yours everyday if you avoid the most common mistakes.
The head roaster at Coffee Direct, Phil Smith, has shared the 7 mistakes which catch everyone out. After reading this, you will never make them again!
Pic: Shutterstock
How to make coffee correctly – avoid these 7 mistakes!
1. Pouring into a cold cup
If you pour your coffee into a cold container, the contents won’t maintain a hot temperature for long. By pre-warming your cup, your coffee will stay hot for much longer. A great way to do this is to pour some water into your cup before it reaches the full boil. Leave it in there until the coffee has brewed and empty it out before filling it up with fresh coffee. This will set your cup to the perfect temperature so you can enjoy your fresh coffee for longer.
2. Using old beans
For the best taste, use beans that have been roasted within the last three weeks. Ensure you check the roast date which is normally found on a label or stamp on the packet. Stale beans will lose their natural essence you’ll find with fresh beans resulting in a much blander coffee and will look dull, especially the darker roasts. If you don’t know the roast date, simply grind a small sample so you can analyse the state by the smell.
Pic: Shutterstock
3. Using water that isn’t fresh
When brewing coffee, you should always consider the quality of the water you use since it plays a big part. Tap water contains minerals and chemicals that can make your coffee taste bitter. Both hard and soft water can change the taste and aroma of your coffee. For a smooth taste always use purified or filtered water.
4. Clean your coffee making equipment frequently
Making coffee does involve using different equipment and tools. It is very important to clean these regularly to ensure your coffee is fresh. This seems like a simple task, but many people think it is harmless to clean the equipment right before they use it again, but it’s important to clean the equipment as soon as you use it to remove the grease and oils that are present in the coffee. These can leave a bitter taste if they aren’t removed.
Pic: Shutterstock
5. The coffee to water ratio
The coffee to water ratio is very important to understand in order to achieve the perfect cup, it also determines the strength of flavour. The general ‘golden’ rule here is 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 6 ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences, though. Check the instructions that come with your brewing equipment to see how to measure accurately and remember some water can be lost to evaporation in certain methods.
6. Not using enough coffee
If you’re guessing measures, chances are that you’re under-estimating. Most people use a lower amount of coffee per cup than is required, this can be for many reasons such as trying to stretch out resources. Being stingy with your supplies can result in a bitter and watery cup. If you are aiming for a weaker cup, add in more hot water as opposed to brewing with less beans. Everyone has different preferences of intensity so try different roasts in order to find a flavour which works for you.
Pic: Shutterstock
7. Masking the bitter taste
Some people prefer to have their coffee with milk and sugar to avoid the ‘bitter’ taste. In fact, this is only present if the coffee is brewed incorrectly! Many people mean the coffee is too strong for their liking when they declare it bitter. Try a freshly ground or perfectly brewed coffee without any extras (and calories) and you might not feel the urge to add in milk or sugar. You will surprise yourself in realising the bitter taste you try to mask isn’t there any more!
The key to the perfect coffee
“Selecting the correct grind for your brewing process is probably the most important factor. The wrong one will mean the incorrect extraction of the coffee. It is always best to grind the coffee just before brewing to get the best flavour.
If you want the freshest possible coffee, buy a grinder.
Pic: Shutterstock
Hope Wilson
I love travelling and food- so it's a good job I'm the travel and cookery editor for My Weekly! I also get involved with the real life section of the magazine as helping people share their story is one of my passions.
