Many people kickstart their day with a cup of coffee. This means that how the coffee turns out could make or mar their day. A saying goes, “Never share your secrets with anyone.” But I think some secrets are better shared than kept to one’s self, like the secret to brewing the perfect cup of coffee. With these simple steps, you could give any barista a run for their money.
Making a cup of coffee is not rocket science. Many people are surprised to find out how easy it is. Nevertheless, there are a few rules you must swear by if you must boast of the perfect cup of coffee…every time.
Coffee to water ratio
A rule of thumb is to use a ratio of 60 grams for every litre of water. This ratio may vary slightly depending on the brand of coffee you’re using. But for the majority, this works well.
For a stronger brew, you can increase the amount of coffee to 65 or 70g per litre.
Feel free to experiment, but do so, remembering that your adventures could impact the taste of your coffee positively…or negatively.
Invest in quality utensils and ingredients.
Many times, the better option is the more expensive option. However, when it comes to coffee making, best believe that it is a bargain worth your every cent. Trade-off on anything and everything possible but never on quality.
Investing in quality utensils also includes keeping your utensils clean after every use. Oily buildups and clumps of coffee in your grinder can make your next cup of coffee taste wrong.
Having a grinder would also be a great benefit to you because coffee tastes better just after it has been ground. Use good-quality coffee beans, filters, and water…yes, water. If you’ve had the water in the kettle for a few days or notice that your kettle gives your water a certain taste, it’s better to discard the water and use another cookware to boil it.
Quality filters will help impact your coffee’s great taste, and when used properly, they prevent sediments from forming. Arabica coffee is famous for its exquisite taste, so you may want to give it a try.
Use the right type of coffee beans
Regarding coffee beans, some people say the fresher, the better, and others say the staler, the better. It is all about perspective. If you’re going to make a cup of coffee that can challenge that of any barista at your favourite coffee shop, you have to find the balance between fresh and stale coffee beans.
As roasted coffee ages, it undergoes a process of degassing, which, initially, is good for your coffee. This process allows excess CO2 in your coffee to escape uniformly, making extraction much more uniform. However, upon prolonged aging, oxidation occurs simultaneously, gradually making your coffee beans stale. If your coffee beans are stale, your coffee will taste off.
Most baristas suggest using beans that have been roasted at least 7–but not more than 21–days earlier. Within this time, your roasted coffee is well balanced between “too fresh to brew” and “too stale to taste good”.
Store your coffee beans properly.
Having an excess of roasted coffee beans is hardly ever the problem. The problem is storage. As mentioned earlier, oxidation (exposure to oxygen) is one of the major factors in making coffee beans stale. To keep your coffee beans tasting fresh, you must store them in airtight containers like airtight glass jars or sturdy, vacuum-sealed bags. Store at room temperature instead of refrigeration or freezing to avoid the beans taking up moisture from the fridge.
Remember to use it before the 21 days are up!
Get it right with your water’s temperature
Many people make the mistake of using boiling water to brew their coffee. What they are eventually left with is a cup of bitter-tasting coffee. Sometimes, even sugar can’t save them. When you use boiling water to strain or extract your coffee, you extract some of the other compounds in the coffee beans. These compounds are bitter and, when taken excessively, could cause side effects you were not prepared for.
Instead, brew your cup of coffee with water that is just about to boil, about 200°F (93.3°C).
Three Simple Ways to Brew Coffee
Pour-over method
One primary method is to line the basket of the coffee maker with a filter and add the ground coffee.
Pour sufficient hot water to wet the grounds completely from the centre, slowly moving outward. Stop pouring the water just before the coffee begins to drip to allow the coffee to de-gas. Pour the rest of the water and let it drain into a cup this time.
French press method
Looking for a flavour-packed cup of coffee? Try the French press method. The stainless steel filter it uses retains the essential oils of the grounds in the coffee. This manual brewing process involves soaking the ground coffee in hot water for about 4 minutes and then slowly plunging the press.
This separates the coffee from the grounds. The risk this method poses is that if you’re not ready to drink your coffee right away, leaving it to sit in the French press will make it taste bitter. Moreover, there may be some sediment at the bottom because it does not use a paper filter.
Using a coffee maker
So you’re running late to work or wherever, but nothing starts your day like coffee. A coffee maker is your saving grace. Using a coffee maker is the fastest way to brew coffee.
Grind your beans with your grinder until it is about as smooth as salt. Line your coffee maker’s basket with filter paper and pour in the ground coffee.
Pour water over the ground coffee and into the machine, then switch it on.
Once the coffee is done brewing, put off the machine and collect your coffee in a mug.
See, simple as A, B, C.
Alternatively, follow the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual.
One of the best coffee makers you can find on Amazon is the Breville Bambino Espresso Machine. Customers praise its speed, ease of use, and ease of cleaning.
To sum it up
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee requires attention to detail, quality ingredients, and patience. It’s all about finding the right balance of flavours and techniques that work best for you. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find your ideal cup.
