How to Brew Coffee
The Equipment
Clean your coffee equipment after each use by rinsing it with clear, hot water. Dry it with an absorbent towel afterwards to prevent grounds. Make sure that coffee oil does not build up on your equipment as it could cause a rancid flavor to your coffee.
The Coffee
Purchase beans as soon after it has been roasted. This is important if you want to enjoy sipping a superb cup of coffee as only freshly roasted beans will give the best flavor. Thus, buy coffee in amounts that you can consume within two weeks.
Grind coffee beans as close to brew time as possible. The uniformity in size of the grounds should also be given importance. Overly ground beans could cause bitter coffee, while an under extracted batch can end with a flat cup of coffee.
Most of all, never brew your coffee grounds twice! Reusing your grounds will bring forth a bland cup of bitter liquid as all the desirable coffee flavors have been extracted with the first brew.
The Water
Water is a very important factor which affects the quality of your coffee. When using tap water, let it run a few seconds before you fill your coffee pot. If your tap water imparts a different odor or taste, use filtered water instead. Distilled or softened water may not be a good option.
Ratio of Coffee to Water
Always use the proper ratio of coffee to water as the latter is lost due to evaporation. One to two tablespoons of ground coffee to six ounces of water is almost always preferable. This, however, could be adjusted based on your personal taste preference.
Water temperature during brewing
ideal temperature for your brewer to maintain is between 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit (90.5-96 degrees Celsius). Otherwise, the coffee will not taste as grand. Too cold water will under extract your coffee, leading to its bland taste. Water with to high temperature will also affect the taste of your coffee negatively. If you brew your coffee manually, let the water rest for two to four minutes after boiling before pouring it into the grounds.
The amount of time your grounds are immersed in the water also affects the taste of your coffee. For example, Espresso requires only 20 to 30 seconds contact time with water. Contact time with water also depends on the design of your brewer. A drip-system, and a plunger pot brewer will have different contact times, being approximately 5 minutes, and 2-4 minutes, respectively.
After your Coffee has been brewed
Brewed coffee should be enjoyed immediately! If you plan to consume the coffee right after brewing it, pour it into a warmed mug or coffee cup to maintain its temperature for as long as possible. If it will take a short while before it will be consumed, maintain the temperature at about 180 to 1805 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also pour your coffee inside a warm thermos, but be sure to consume it within the next 45 minutes! Just a tip: Never reheat your coffee! Freshly brewed coffee and reheated coffee do not taste the same.
