Coffee is a personal thing – the most effective way to make it is based on how you enjoy it most.
That being said, mastering some fundamentals can allow you to perfect your skills. From here, we encourage you to test different roasts, origins, or even preparation techniques.
Here are our tips for making an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
The Equipment
Check that your equipment — from bean grinders and filters to coffee makers– is clean at the end of each use.
Rinse the coffee with clean, hot water (or wipe clean) and then dry using an absorbent towel. It’s crucial to make sure there are no leftover grounds to collect and no build-up of coffee oils (caffeoyl) which can cause future coffee cups to taste bitter and rancid.
The Beans
Good coffee starts with good beans. The quality and flavor of your coffee are not only determined by your preference for the brewing process, but also by the type of coffee you select.
The flavor elements are:
- The country and region of the region of
- The variety of beans – robusta, arabica – or a mix
- The roast variety
- The texture of your grind
While there’s a myriad of options to choose from, remember that there is no right or incorrect choice. For instance, you could choose a dark, delicious espresso roast coffee and grind it to be brewed using drip systems. Enjoy trying out and tasting various combinations.
The Grind
If you are buying whole beans or deciding to buy coffee online, be sure to grind the beans in the exact brew time as you can to get the maximum freshness. A mill grinder or burr is ideal since the coffee is ground to a consistent size.
A blade grinder is less ideal because some coffees will be ground finer than the rest. If you normally grind coffee in your home with the blade grinder, you should try getting it ground in the store with the burr grinder. You’ll be amazed at the differences! (Whichever option you use be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when using your grinder, and be mindful of any safety concerns that you need to consider.)
The size of the grind is vital to the flavor of your coffee. If your coffee tastes bitter, it may be over-extracted or ground to a fine. In contrast, if your coffee has a taste that is flat, it might be under-extracted, meaning your grind is too coarse.
The Water
The water you use is very important in the flavor of the coffee you drink. Filter or bottle your water if your tap water isn’t good, or has a strong smell or taste, like chlorine.
If you’re using tap water, let it run just a couple of seconds prior to filling your coffee pot, and make sure to use cold water. Avoid softened or distilled water.