The brewing process in discovering the perfect cup of coffee is often overlooked or merely taken for granted. Sure, it all begins with buying the finest bulk coffee as this is the foundation of a perfect cup of coffee, but it is all too easy to ruin what would otherwise be an excellent cup of coffee with an improper brewing technique. You wanted us to tell you that once you have purchased the highest quality coffee beans that the end result of a great cup of coffee is as simple as pushing the “brew” button on your coffee maker. But then, you would be wrong.

There are many people with specific roles that need to be carried out properly in order for you to enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee. The people who grow the coffee beans must do their part, the company who buys the coffee beans from the grower and sells them to you must do their part as well. But this is only part of the equation as the journey to a perfect cup of coffee ends with you and the brewing process. If you don’t do your job, and do it right, your cup of coffee will disappoint. And you are the one to blame.

Water

The brewing process begins with the water you use for your coffee. The water you use has a huge influence on the flavor of your coffee. A rule of thumb to remember is that is the water you use for your coffee doesn’t taste good, neither will your coffee. This seems rather obvious, yet there are millions of people who fill their coffee brewer with nasty tap water every day and wonder why their coffee tastes so bad.

Bottled water is always your best bet. But this isn’t always a practical choice. Tap water can be acceptable if you are using a good filtration system. You should avoid distilled water as the minerals have been removed.

Water to Coffee Ratio

If you are serious about your coffee, you should invest in a scale because the best way to measure coffee is by weight. The proportion of coffee used in relation to the amount of water you should use is what is known as the brewing ratio. There are several ratios that people use in the brewing process, the one that makes your coffee perfect is completely up to you. For example, if you find a specific brewing ratio leaves your coffee too weak, try a different ratio with less water and more coffee.

Water Temperature

The water temperature in the brewing process is very important. While brewing, the water should fall between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. The water should never come to a boil as this will burn the coffee.

Improper brewing is one of the biggest reasons people get bad results when they brew their own coffee. Another reason people brew bad coffee is because they are buying their coffee in a can at the local grocery store, but that is a subject we will breach in the future.