Wondering how to make the perfect cup of coffee? First, define “perfect.” After all, some people love their coffee very strong, others love it weak. Some swear by four creamers; others eschew cream and milk entirely and want their coffee black as black can be while still others swear the only perfect cup of coffee is a hot caramel mocha.
So define what makes a perfect cup to you. Then take a look below for how to create an impeccable brew that will be the basis on which you then create your perfect cup of coffee.
It Starts with the Beans
The fresher your coffee beans, the better. Coffee just tastes better when the beans were roasted mere days before you brew them. Oxygen is the nemesis of taste when it comes to coffee beans and the longer a roasted bean has been sitting around before brewing, the less flavorful it will be.
Aim to use beans that are only five to seven days out from being roasted. Store them in a glass jar with an airtight seal. Don’t refrigerate and never, ever freeze.
Organic Coffee Tastes Better. It Does.
Organic coffee means no chemicals or synthetic fertilizers have been used in its growth or handling. Organic beans have more healthy antioxidants – many people say they can taste the difference. Use organic coffee beans.
Water Affects the Coffee’s Taste
We’re not going to be coffee snobs and say that you must use only filtered water: if you like the taste of the water that comes from your tap, go ahead and use it. If you don’t, then use filtered or bottled water.
Brewing Tools Matter
You may want to consider purchasing a manual dripper – it filters out sediment and oil. You also don’t want to use cheap paper filters. Instead, look for “dioxin-free” or “oxygen-bleached” filters. Or you may want to purchase a gold-plated filter. These better filters will bring out the coffee’s fullest flavor.
Pour Enough Coffee in the Filter
To ensure your drink is of the proper strength, use two level tablespoons per six ounces of coffee (2.75 tablespoons if you’re going for an eight-ounce cup, and four tablespoons if you’re going for 12 ounces). Skimping on the coffee compared to how much water you use can mean you’ll get a bitter cup of coffee.
Watch the Heat
Too-hot water will work on the coffee’s compounds such that the drink will taste bitter, so make sure that your water’s brewing temperature is 200 degrees F (the better coffee makers automatically regulate this). Understand that reheating or even placing the cup on a warming device can turn even the perfect cup of coffee bitter/foul.
Take Care of Your Brewing Tools and They Will Take Care of You
Regularly clean the jars you store the coffee in. If you grind your beans yourself, clean the grinder to remove the oil that will build up. Run a good solution of vinegar through your coffeemaker once a month to dissolve mineral deposits and then rinse thoroughly.
As mentioned above, organic coffee is a very important part when you want to make the perfect cup of your favorite brew. Try Ubean Coffee the next time you’re itching to make an outstanding cup for your friends and family.