Brewing Better Coffee: 8 Quick Tips
If you are like many Americans, your day doesn't start until you have
downed a cup of coffee. But getting the perfect brew is not an easy
task. If your morning joe leaves a lot to be desired, follow these easy
steps to brewing a better cup.
1. Invest in a Quality Coffee Maker. It all starts with
a good coffee machine. If you are a true coffee lover, you will want to
invest some money in your brewing equipment. While you do not need to
spend hundreds on a professional coffee maker, you will want to read
reviews and find the right machine for your budget and your needs.
Because more than 50 percent of Americans start their day with coffee,
the industry has responded with a wide variety of new machines and there
are still the old standbys, as well. If you love rich tasting coffee,
for example, but you don't want to spend a lot, consider a simple French
press, which brews delicious coffee and typically costs less than $50.
I have the Bodum Chambord 8-cup coffee press, shown below. It comes in a
variety of sizes. My husband and I love to share pressed coffee on
Saturday mornings, but for our
hectic weekday mornings, I love my Cuisinart Coffee Maker.
Cooking.com has a
great selection of coffee makers with ratings and reviews by customers.
If you find a coffee maker you like, don't forget to check for a
cooking.com
coupon code before you order. They are well known for generous
coupon codes throughout the year.
Current codes
are here.
2. Grind your Own Beans. In addition to a coffee
brewing machine, you may also want to invest in a bean grinder. Coffee
lovers everywhere agree that freshly ground beans make the best tasting
coffee.
3. Buy the Right Beans. Buying a grinder also allows
you to experiment with different blends of beans. You can purchase
specialty beans from a local micro-roaster. Even if you are just using
beans from your local supermarket, you can develop some pretty flavorful
combinations with some experimentation. Make sure to store your beans in
an airtight container for the best flavor.
Quality beans can get expensive, but you can save money by buying your
beans from
Coffee
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4. Brewing Instructions. Once you have acquired a great
coffee maker and a good combination of beans, you’ll be ready to make
coffee. But what truly makes coffee great is the brewing process. No
matter what type of coffee machine you use, the follow steps will ensure
that you are getting the best coffee that you can.
5. Start out with a clean coffee maker. The best
tasting brew comes from clean equipment. Make sure that your carafe has
been cleaned so there are no remnants of the previous morning's coffee,
and double check that the basket is clear of coffee grounds. Nothing
ruins a pot of coffee more than leftover grounds. If you are new to
brewing your own coffee, start with something mild like an Arabic blend.
After you have mastered the art of brewing, you can adjust to find your
desired strength of flavor and level of caffeine.
6. Fill the carafe with fresh, cold water and then fill up the
drip reservoir. Make sure to stop just before the reservoir is
totally full. Overfilling will not only make a weaker brew, but it could
prevent your coffee maker from working properly. Clean up after you pour
so there is no excess water on the hotplate or on the machine itself.
This will keep your coffee maker working like new for years to come.
7. Insert one liner (if your coffee machine calls for it) and
then use five mounded scoops for ten cups of coffee. Adjust
your scoops for less cups (one scoop per two cups). You will, of course,
adjust the amount of coffee to suit your personal taste as you continue
to experiment with your coffee making.
Great Tip: You might also want to try adding a pinch of salt on top
of the grounds to cut the bitterness of the coffee. Or try adding
cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the grounds for a special touch.
8. Once you have added the water and the grounds, you are ready
to brew. Place the carafe under the drip feed and start your
machine. To prepare, warm your coffee cups with a rinse under hot water.
If you leave the cups cold, the coffee will drop in temperature before
you can enjoy it. Gather sweeteners, milk or coffee creamer and you will
be ready to enjoy your perfect cup of coffee once it is brewed.
We think you'll love:
Ethical Bean Coffee
Each bag of beans tells its own story, from farm to cup.
