Coffee is America's favorite hot beverage. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, coffee consumption was at an all-time high. Coffee drinkers who worked from home found that a number of their favorite coffee shops had shut down. Many people became coffee makers and began to brew their own to achieve barista-quality java from the convenience of their kitchen. Furthermore, if you brew your own fresh roasted coffee, you have total control over all aspects of the process and can brew the perfect cup every time. Brewing a perfect cup of coffee is an art. It takes practice and patience, but the end result is well worth it. We will cover everything from choosing fresh beans to brewing equipment, along with a few fundamentals, and special techniques for you to achieve the best results.
Start With High-Quality Roasted Whole Beans
Great coffee begins with great roasted beans and specialty-grade beans are worth the investment. They have been meticulously selected for their flavor profile and roasted to perfection. The best beans will produce a cup of coffee with balanced acidity, sweetness, and bitterness. Specialty grade beans also tend to come from sustainable and eco-friendly sources. A good cup of joe has a pleasant, balanced flavor and should not leave a bitter aftertaste. Low-grade coffee taste bitter. If you cannot find specialty-grade beans, look for premium-grade whole-bean coffee. Fresh coffee tastes better to your taste buds. When buying beans, the roast date should be within one to two weeks of your purchase date. You should avoid using pre ground coffee because pre ground coffee tastes flat.
Get Yourself A Burr Grinder
There's no doubt that a burr coffee grinder (sometimes called a mill grinder) is superior to a blade grinder for making coffee. The burr grinder produces a more consistent grind size, which results in a balanced cup of coffee with more desirable coffee flavors. This is because the burr grinder crushes the beans between two burrs, rather than slicing them with a blade, as a blade grinder does. The result is a more even grind and less heat build-up, which can adversely affect the flavor of the coffee.
Heat The Water
The optimal brewing temperature of coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Filtered and distilled water is best, as it results in a cleaner cup with a more consistent flavor compared to tap water. You can heat the water in a pot on the stove or use an electric kettle to get the ideal water temperature.
Weigh Coffee And Water
A gram scale will allow you to precisely measure the amount of coffee and water to ensure a proper ratio when brewing. The ideal ratio is 1g coffee to 15g water. Only weigh and grind as much coffee as you plan to brew.
Wet The Filter
Once the desired water temperature has been reached, pour it into your coffee pot and wet the coffee filter. This will help to remove any papery taste from the filter. Be sure to use distilled or filtered water. depending on where you live, the tap water may have impurities or chemicals that will make it impossible to brew a flavorful cup of coffee.
Use a Timer
A timer is critical for ensuring that you don't extract the flavors too quickly or too slowly during brewing.
