Do you want to know how to make a really great cup of coffee? Well it's easy, and you don't need an expensive coffee maker to do it; any old coffee maker will work just fine. If you follow the steps outlined below, you will amaze your friends and family (and most importantly your own taste buds) with really great coffee.
The beans
Coffee grounds lose flavor very fast. Therefore, in order to brew really great coffee you're going to have to grind your own coffee beans. Fortunately this is a very easy process. If your coffee maker doesn't have a built-in grinder, then you'll need to go out and buy a coffee grinder. Coffee grinders come in all prices, ranging anywhere from $10 to over $100. You don't need to buy an expensive coffee grinder, cheap grinders work just fine. But regardless of how much you spend on a grinder, my first tip is this: Invest in a coffee grinder and grind your own beans.
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When purchasing roasted coffee beans, there are two types of beans you can choose from: Arabica and Robusta.
Robusta beans are what you typically find in your everyday supermarket brand of ground coffee. Robusta beans take less time to harvest which means they're cheaper than Arabica beans. They also contain more caffeine, and according to most coffee connoisseurs, have less flavor then Arabica beans. And I agree. When choosing a coffee bean, I highly recommend buying Arabica beans over Robusta beans. They simply taste better in my opinion. |
In particular, I love Hawaiian Kona beans. They're my hands down favorite. But you should experiment and use whatever you like best.
After you purchase your beans, put them in an airtight Ziplok bag and store them in the freezer. Storing beans in the freezer will help preserve their freshness. That said, coffee brews better when your coffee grounds are room temperature, so if possible, let your coffee beans sit out several minutes before you grind them.
And only grind as many beans as you're going to use. Again, coffee grounds lose flavor very fast, so you should only grind what you are planning to brew at that moment. And never reuse old coffee grounds.
The water
Choosing a good quality drinking water is the key to making great coffee. Coffee is over 98% water, so choosing your water is very important. Unless you live in the mountains and have natural spring water flowing out of your faucet, you should never use unfiltered tap water to brew your coffee. If you take one piece of advice from this web site, make it this: Use a good quality drinking water that tastes good.
If your water tastes good, then chances are your coffee will taste good too. With that in mind, you should try and buy a water that has a high alkaline percentage. Here's why:
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Coffee is very acidic, some people can't even drink it. Using an alkaline water (also called ionized water) will help balance out the pH level in your coffee, making it less acidic and thus more enjoyable to drink. This sounds complicated, but it doesn't have to be. I'm not suggesting you go out and buy products to make your water more alkaline (although there are several products on the internet to choose from), but rather buy a bottled water that is naturally more alkaline than acidic. And what type of water should you buy? |
Natural spring water, and particularly mineral water, tends to be more alkaline than purified water. So my recommendation is to use a natural spring or mineral water to brew your coffee. But regardless of what type of water you choose, just make sure it tastes good. You can drive yourself crazy looking at pH balances, but in reality, you probably can't taste much of a difference. So just choose a drinking water that tastes good.
Note, however, that you should never use distilled water.
And you should always use cold water to brew your coffee, so store your water in the refrigerator. If you're using filtered tap water, then fill up a pitcher and refrigerate it.
The filter
Most drip coffee makers use one of two types of filters: mesh or paper. If you're using a mesh filter, then my only advice for you is to clean your mesh filter often.
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For those of us who use paper filters, you have two choices: white (bleached) or brown (natural). Many people claim that bleached filters leave a bad taste in the coffee. I've used both, and I honestly can't tell the difference between the two. However, since bleached and natural coffee filters cost about the same, I always use a natural filter. I've never read any article that advocates using a bleached filter over a natural filter.
There are also several brands of eco-friendly "reusable" filters that you can use instead of paper filters. I have never used them (paper filters don't bother me), but if paper filters bother you, consider trying a reusable filter instead. If you can't find a reusable filter at your local grocery store, search the web; there are several to choose from online. |
Sugar and spice and everything nice
So what's the best way to drink your coffee? Black? With Milk? Cream? Cream and sugar? Just sugar? Well, as I've stated throughout this web site, you should make your coffee so that it tastes good to you. That said, most connoisseurs will suggest you drink your coffee black or with a little bit milk or cream added (about a tablespoon), and absolutely no sugar. Here's why:
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Diving back into pH balances, milk and cream are alkaline liquids, so if you read my section above on water, you'll understand that adding a little bit of milk to your coffee will help balance out the acid in the coffee (thus making it more enjoyable, at least theoretically). Because cream contains a large amount of saturated fat, I recommend adding skim or 2% milk to your coffee.
Sugar and artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet, Sweet n Low, and Equal, are acidic; so adding these to your coffee will only increase the acidity of your coffee. Soybeans, and subsequently soy milk, are also acidic and should be avoided. Sugar also covers up the flavor of your coffee. |
Here's a tip: Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or salt to your coffee grounds before brewing. Not only will it enhance the flavor, but cinnamon and salt are also highly alkaline and will help balance the acidity in your coffee. Don't believe me? Give it a try and see for yourself!
A clean coffee maker is a happy coffee maker
Coffee leaves an oily residue in your coffee maker and pot. It's not a heavy residue, but even a small amount is enough to tarnish the taste of a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
On a daily basis, you should clean your coffee pot immediately after using it, before the oil has a chance to thicken and stick to the glass surface. Coffee gets bitter the longer it sits out, and after about an hour it should be thrown out anyway.
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You should clean your coffee pot once every 3-4 weeks. Some articles claim you can go longer, but I disagree. In order to brew consistently great coffee, you're going to need to maintain a clean coffee maker.
Fortunately, cleaning a drip coffee maker is very easy. Fill your coffee maker with one part white distilled vinegar and two parts warm water (use more vinegar if you haven't cleaned your coffee maker in awhile), add a filter, and run your coffee maker as you normally would. To remove any leftover vinegar (and smell), run your coffee maker twice more using just warm water (no vinegar, and don't forget to change your coffee filter). |
If you can't stand the smell of vinegar (and using vinegar does produce a smell), you can substitute baking soda for vinegar. You can also use a store-bought coffee maker cleaner. Most grocery stores carry such products, usually in the same section as the coffee.
The conclusion
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And that's it!
Making great coffee is a science, not an art. Anyone can do it. All you need to do is follow a few easy steps and you will be certain to brew great coffee. Cheers!! |
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