Coffea arabica: the evergreen tree of your dreams. Its beans are the first thing many people think of in the morning, leading them to zombie-walk into the kitchen to brew an expedited cup.
This habitual and almost ritualistic process sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. Coffee lovers often find themselves supplementing their homebrew by regularly visiting local coffee shops for a better drink.
By learning how to brew the perfect cup of coffee, you’ll be more satisfied with your joe each day — without spending $6 on a cup from your local shop.
How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee With the Perfect Ingredients
At this point, any coffee drinker should know that you can’t get coffee shop perfection with Folger’s-like quality.
If coffee is a big part of your routine, invest in quality brands. Opt for fresh-roasted, small-batch bags of whole beans whenever you can.
You want to buy whole beans because some of the coffee’s delicious flavors express right after grinding. You can either invest in a burr or mill grinder to use each morning or you can use a local store’s grinder each week.
The other key ingredient is filtered water. Unfiltered water includes chemicals and unwanted flavors that end up in your morning cup. Click for more information about why you should use filtered water in general.
Once you have a fresh-roasted bean and high-quality water, you can move on to perfecting your brewing method with the following tips.
Use the Right Amount of Grounds
Regardless of your preferred style of brew, you should measure your grounds to get the best flavors and consistency.
For a classic cup of coffee, you’ll want between 1 to 2 tablespoons of grounds for every 6 ounces of water. It’s helpful to have a designated spoon that measures the right amount so that your noncaffeinated brain doesn’t have to think too hard.
Pay Attention to Temperature
Using heat to extract coffee’s goodness allows you to enjoy it more quickly, whereas a process like cold brewing takes longer and requires more planning.
For a standard cup of coffee, you should use water between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use a drip machine, it should be within this range.
For other methods where you’re heating the water, get it to a full boil without letting it topple over. Let it rest for about a minute before adding it to your grounds.
Temperature is an important factor in the final cup you get, as colder and hotter water both lead to decreased flavor. You can keep it consistent with an electric kettle or by using a simple kitchen thermometer.
Get the Timing Right
You’ve probably had the unpleasant experience of drinking an over-brewed cup of bitter coffee.
To make the perfect cup, your drip machine should take around 5 minutes. If you’re using a french press, you should aim for between 2 to 4 minutes of total brew time once the water hits the grounds, depending on the strength you like.
When using a pour-over setup, the total brew time should land between 2.5 to 3 minutes. If you need to, set a timer so that you get it right.
Keep in mind that this formula for a perfect cup won’t necessarily convert your beloveds into being coffee fanatics with you. Genetic differences may contribute to whether a person likes or dislikes coffee, making it impossible to convince them otherwise.
Instead, focus on your own satisfaction and enjoy the perfect brew you created.
Brew and Enjoy
Now that you know how to brew the perfect cup of coffee, you can wake up with ease and satisfaction.
Keep reading the blog for more tips and tricks.
