A piping hot, aromatic coffee can set the mood for your whole day. For coffee lovers, it is a habit which can decide the course of their day. Getting the right coffee taste is also an art. The perfect coffee beans, the filter, the brew and the unwanted bitterness – all these need to be checked before getting the coffee on the table.
Follow these basic rules to get it all right – the right blend can work wonders.
One of the most sought after and original way of brewing a coffee is to get coffee beans and then go through the entire process. Nothing like the whiff of freshly brewed coffee beans.
Here are steps to make this process as enjoyable as it can ever be.
Buy Fresh Beans
Start with fresh whole beans.
Coffee beans retain their flavour only for a few days after being roasted, hence it should be consumed within a month of being roasted.
Sourcing the right beans is essential. Get the beans in small batches. Oxygen and bright light are the worst flavor busters for roasted beans, so be careful.
Keep Coffee Beans Fresh
Always store opened coffee beans in an airtight container. Glass canning jars or ceramic storage are also good. Never refrigerate or freeze the beans. It loses its flavour faster this way.
Choose Good Coffee
There are two major beans in the market—Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are more widely produced, have a wider range and are generally considered the better of the two. Robusta, on the other hand, has a higher caffeine content but harsh flavours.
The right grind and water type
The best-tasting brews are made from beans grounded just before brewing. So, don’t grind and keep for too long, if authenticity is your priority.
The type of water used is essential too. Avoid tap water and use bottled spring water or activated-charcoal/carbon filters on the taps. Also look for oxygen-bleached or dioxin-free paper filters.
The right mix of ingredients
The standard measure for brewing coffee of proper strength is 2 level tablespoons per 6-ounce cup or about 2 3/4 tablespoons per 8-ounce cup. Don’t use the economical way of using less coffee and hot water to extract more cups. The brews only get bitter.
Mind the heat
Water that is too hot will extract compounds in the coffee that are bitter rather than pleasant. Keep the temperature to 200°F, or about 45 seconds off a full boil. Once brewed, don’t expect coffee to hold its best flavors for long. Reheating is one of the worst things one can do to a good coffee.
Keep the equipment clean
Clean storage containers and grinders every few weeks to remove any oily residues. Once a month, run a strong solution of vinegar through the coffeemaker to dissolve away any mineral deposits. Rinse thoroughly before reuse.
Coffee can be heavenly and the right process creates that for it.