10 Tips on Making Better Coffee at Home

Making good coffee is not complicated, and does not require expensive machines or arcane Knowledge.

Following these 10 simple suggestions will help you make good coffee every time.

(All of the tips on this list should be taken with the "your mileage will vary" warning - These are "suggestions"/things to try not a list of rules set in stone)

... the big three: Water - temperature - beans

10. Coffee/water ratio
The most common "coffee making" mistake is using too little coffee. Water flowing through the coffee grounds extracts flavors, therefore too little coffee will result in weak coffee. The rule of thumb is to use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water. Caveats:

• The traditional "coffee measure" measures precisely 2 tablespoons
• some coffeemakers come with 1 tablespoon scoops
• Remember that one standard measuring "cup" = 8 fluid ounces so ¾ of a "cup" = 6 fluid ounces

9. Use water "just off the boil"
Water that is between 195 - 205 degrees F (that's 88 - 96 degrees C) will produce the best coffee.

Caveat:
Automatic drip coffee makers heat the water for you - which is very convenient, but also means that you have no control over the water temperature. Check the temperature of the water in your coffee maker if you aren't happy with your coffee.

8. Keep brew time between 4 to 5 minutes
Now that you have the right ratio (of the right temperature) water to coffee, the next problem is how long you should "brew" your coffee. The rule of thumb is to brew coffee between 4 and 5 minutes. Brewing longer results in bitter coffee. Brewing for less than suggested will result in "flavorless" coffee.

Caveats:

• If you want "weaker" coffee - best practice is to brew it strong then add milk or water
• "Espresso" has a very short brewing time - the espresso machine forces "high-pressure" water through the ground coffee (and "Espresso coffee" is another subject)
• "Off the boil" can be estimated my bringing water to a boil, then letting it set for a couple seconds

7. Use good tasting water
If the water tastes bad before you make coffee - it will still taste bad AFTER you make coffee (only warmer). Avoid any water that tastes like "something" (unless you like what that "something" tastes like).

Caveat: In general - a good water filtering system is worth the money if you have "skunky" water

6. Grind your own beans
If you are a casual coffee drinker then grinding your own coffee beans may sound like an extravagance. Well, you are probably right - but grinding your our coffee will result in better tasting coffee. Grinding the coffee allows more contact between water and beans - ideally resulting in more flavor.

How you grind your coffee greatly influences the resulting brew. Grind your coffee too fine and you will get bitter coffee, grind it too coarse and you'll get watery coffee.

Types of grinders:
Coffee grinders come in two flavors: blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade grinders use rotating blades to chop up the coffee beans. Burr grinders use two rotating wheels/cylinders to crush the coffee beans.

In general "burr" type grinders are more expensive than "blade" grinders but are best/easiest (i.e. they produce a more consistent grind).

Caveats: use the correct grind for your coffee maker/brewing method -"Read the manual" applies. In general:

• "press" brewing = coarse
• "drip" brewing = medium to fine
• "espresso" = very fine/powder

5. Buy coffee weekly
Stored at room temperature coffee beans will be "past their best" in about a week. Light and heat are the "enemy" - if you have to store - keep the beans away from direct sunlight. Best practice is to put the beans in the freezer, in an airtight container.

On the other hand - ground coffee will only stay fresh a few days (at room temperature). For best results store your ground coffee in an airtight container in the freezer.

4. Brew coffee fresh then serve immediately
Coffee will become bitter if left on a warmer more than 20 minutes (which is why a famous coffee chain makes a fresh pot of coffee every 20 minutes - I'm sure this has something to do with why their coffee is considered "addictive" in Canada).

If coffee isn't going to be served immediately: best practice is to put it into a carafe/thermos.

Caveats:

• If left on the warmer portion of a drip maker - remove the filter/grounds when brewing is complete - this will help prevent "bitter coffee drip" (but be careful you don't burn yourself)
• Never reheat coffee (unless you like the taste of bitter dishwater)
• Don't re-use grounds (I did this once years ago and got a pot full of dirty water - hey, no one taught me how to make coffee!)

3. Try a French press
A French press is of a beaker/glass pot with a plunger/filter/metal screen. Course ground coffee is placed in the beaker - then "just off the boil" water is poured directly onto the grounds. The coffee brews for 4 to 6 minutes, then the plunger is pushed down - separating the "coffee" from the "coffee grounds."

The resulting brew is very strong and has a "full body" (i.e. flavor galore).

Caveat: Pour coffee into a carafe/thermos if coffee won't be imbibed immediately (or you'll end up with very strong and BITTER coffee).

... one more tip and a suggestion to make 10

2. Keep your automatic drip coffee maker clean
Over time, drip coffee makers accumulate "impurities" (from hard water and coffee oils). These impurities result in longer brewing times and bitter coffee. Fortunately cleaning a drip coffee maker is simple and easy (and I wish someone would tell a few restaurants where I've had "bad coffee" this tip):

• Fill coffee pot with a mixture consisting of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water
• Place a filter in the coffee maker and run mixture through
• Allow machine to cool completely
• mix another pot of vinegar/water - run again - cool again
• rinse pot with warm water then run clean water through - cool again
• finally run clean water through (if you can taste vinegar in the water - repeat rinse again)

Caveat:
Don't use soapy water to clean a dirty coffee pot (unless you like the taste of soap in your coffee) - instead put some ice cubes, water, and table salt into the pot - swirl around, then rinse.

1. try different roasts/blends
A coffee's "roast" denotes how long it has been "cooked" - darker roasts have been "cooked" longer and have a stronger/more bitter taste than lighter/milder roasts. A coffee "blend" is a combination of roasts/beans designed to give a more complex flavor. Experiment/explore/try something new - you might find something you like.

Caveats:

• If you ask someone in North America to name a "coffee place" - you are going to hear two names a LOT (both are extremely popular) - and both sell a lot of coffee making paraphernalia. Their websites:
  

• Tim Hortons - http://www.timhortons.com/
• Starbucks - http://www.starbucks.com/

• Remember it is only coffee - have fun, and don't drink what you don't like (good advice for beer and wine as well ...lol)