Gourmet coffee makers are only as good as the water you use. This article covers water quality, temperature, and other helpful tips for making a great cup of coffee. Should you use bottled water to brew beer? It’s okay to make coffee with tap water that tastes good straight from the tap.
Be careful with tap water that has a strong odor or taste, such as iron or chlorine. Remember to let the faucet run for a few seconds (or more) until it cools down to its lowest temperature. That gives it a fresher taste. Only use cold water and never use distilled or softened water. Using the hot water tap is a sure way to ruin the flavor of your coffee. If your tap water isn’t nearly perfect, you should filter it or buy it bottled. Some more expensive manufacturers actually include a built-in filter. An inexpensive alternative is to use a filtered pitcher.
The proper ratio of water to coffee is 2 tablespoons (perhaps a little less if you prefer) of ground beans for every 6 ounces of water. Remember that the typical “cup of coffee” is only six ounces, and this is how your mug will be marked. Be careful not to get confused with an 8-ounce “measuring cup.”
The proper temperature for brewing is just below boiling. If you’re heating water on the stove, you can let it come to a boil, then let it sit for a minute before pouring it over the ground into your cone strainer or pressure cooker. If it’s too cold, the beans won’t release their full flavor. Water that is too hot draws out the bitter-tasting oils from the beans.
The best temperature for brewing coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. You should serve it at a cooler temperature, between 145 and 175 degrees, although most people prefer the higher end of that range. If the flavor seems too bland and lacking and you never get the full, rich gourmet flavor you want, then pay attention to the brew temperature.
Preparation time depends on the method you use. The drippers spray hot water onto the ground which percolates in a minute or two. A pressure cooker (or French press) brews between 3 and 4 minutes. For an espresso machine, hot water is quickly forced through the espresso grind in 20-30 seconds. An Aeropress also brews beer in the 20 seconds it takes to press the plunger and push the water through the filtered grounds.
Remember that the length of time the hot water remains in contact with the ground is directly related to the type of grind used for the particular coffeemaker. A French press requires the coarsest grind. An espresso machine and an Aeropress use finely ground beans. A medium grind works best for a drip coffee maker.
If your coffee is too strong, check the brew temperature. Then make sure you’re using the correct grind and brewing it for the correct length of time. Try varying the brew time that the hot water stays in contact with your ground coffee, until you make the perfect cup. It’s better to time the brew cycle, rather than guess.
A breakthrough in brewing technology is the Keurig single-serve coffee maker, with a revolutionary process for controlling pressure, brew time and temperature. The Keurig Coffee System can be a great way for a beginner to learn what great gourmet coffee should taste like, brewed simply and flavorfully time after time. Now you know this tip for beginning coffee makers: pay attention to the water you’re using to make great-tasting coffee.
