3 Easy Tips for a Better Cup

So, you have the beans and a good “grind” now what? Well coffee quality is less than ideal without proper clean equipment and the right water temperature. Coffee brewing is like a circle where no one part of the process complete without the other. All systems play a huge role in a solid quality brew. So here are 3 easy things that are often overlooked by many when they brew.

1. Clean Equipment

This is basic and self-explanatory. Clean whatever you use and use clean stuff. If you have old dirty equipment it’s going to bring down the quality and increase bitterness, making your coffee taste old and dirty just like the equipment it is been processed in. 

2. Water Quality

Since coffee is around 98% water, I think we all would agree that the best beans in the world would be wasted if we added unfiltered old stale water. For most places basic filtration is often enough. But feel free to experiment to find your personal preference between household tap, filtered, and bottled water.

3. Temperature

It is true you can burn your coffee if the water is too hot. Adding water that is too hot can burn your grinds which in turn leads to your coffee tasting burnt and bitter. I believe that the ideal temperature for brewing coffee and maximizing the “sweet spot of the extraction” process is between 90 - 95 degrees Celsius (or 195 - 205 degrees Fahrenheit).

Unfortunately, most home drip machines are factory set so there is little you can do there, but with some of the other "fun interactive methods" you have some water temperature flexibility.

For a pour over, French press, AeroPress,.. etc, the general rule we use is to let it sit for 30 to 45 seconds after reaching that rolling boil, before adding the water to your beans.  Letting the boiling water stand for 30-45 seconds off a boil should give you that sweet temperature of around 198-200 you seek.

Even better is if you have a temperature-controlled goose neck kettle then set it, forget it.

But feel free to play with time off your kettle and with temperatures to find what makes your best cup the way its meant for you.