Do you know how to make coffee? No, seriously, do you know how to make coffee or are you the type who just tosses a couple of scoops of Folgers into your Mr. Coffee, add water and flip the switch? If that is what you do every morning, you deserve to drink the bad coffee you just made.
A good cup of coffee in the morning can set the mood for the entire day. This might be the reason you have more bad days than good days. If you want a really good cup of coffee, you must start with the right green coffee beans from Smokin’ Beans. The key to good coffee begins with a quality coffee bean, not something you buy in a can at the store. From that point, there are a few things you need to know that will make your coffee experience better.
Measure Your Coffee
One way to ensure a great cup of coffee is to eliminate the variables. You can do this is by using the exact same amount of coffee and water in each brewing. To be accurate, you should measure your coffee by weight and not by volume. The ideal ratio for great coffee is one part coffee to 20 parts of water.
Using the Right Water
Using hard water won’t produce a good cup of coffee. Water with high mineral content will also lead to build-up in your coffee maker.
Heavily filtered water can be just as problematic. What you want is water that is in the middle of the spectrum, with a mineral balance of about 150 parts per million.
Brew at the Right Temperature
A lot of people make the mistake of not reaching the optimal temperature when brewing their coffee. The desired brew temperature for drip coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees. If your coffee maker does not get hot enough, you might want to try adding boiling water to see if that helps.
When to Grind
Most experts agree that coffee begins to lose its flavor 30 minutes after it has been ground. If this is the case, then you need to grind your coffee right before you are set to brew it.
Grind size is a factor as well. If you grind your coffee too much, it can make for bitter coffee. Grind it too little and you will have weak coffee. A medium-fine grind is optimal.
Storing Your Beans
Storing your coffee properly will keep it fresh for a longer period of time. You can go all out and get a container that will vacuum seal your coffee, but a mason jar will work just as well.
A Whole, Fresh Coffee Bean
If you are buying your coffee already ground and in a can at the store, you are doing it wrong. The coffee you buy at the store is probably months old. Coffee reaches it peak flavor just days after it has been roasted, this is a reason why you should buy green coffee beans from Smokin’ Beans. Shop now.