Coffee is one of the reasons why people wake up with a smile on their faces. There’s a long work day ahead, but the sacredness of enjoying a cup of black coffee in the morning? That’s more than enough to get anyone out of bed.
Unfortunately, most people barely make an effort to produce a good cup of coffee. On the contrary, the faster they do the job, the sooner they finish breakfast, and the sooner they leave for work. If you are here, it’s because you want to get rid of this habit. You want a coffee that’s just right for you. Here’s what you need to do.
Have Your Beans Fresh
This one probably makes the most significant difference between a good cup of coffee and a better one. Using fresh coffee beans means purchasing the ones that have been roasted just some days before you got your hands on them. More precisely, within five and seven days.
But how do you spot the right coffee beans? Simple. Beans that are packaged in vacuum-sealed bags will never disappoint. This is because air and light reduce the quality of the coffee.
Lastly, once you open the bag and take those beans out, place them in tightly sealed jars or containers. Leave the jars in your kitchen cupboard, but never inside the fridge or freezer. After all, coffee beans absorb food smell.
Grind It Yourself
Buying ground coffee is a quick solution. This, unfortunately, provides speed in exchange for quality. Once the coffee has been ground, it slowly starts to lose its quality.
So, if you want to enjoy the greatest coffee, you must grind the beans yourself. As the information found at Ideal Grind states, anyone who has a passion for coffee knows making a cup is never as simple as it seems. As usual, dedication and attention to detail will surely pay off.
Consider that grinding your coffee means creating a wider surface area that accelerates the process of dilution. As a result, there’s a bigger concentration of the beans’ oil, creating a more tasty coffee.
The Right Amount
Neither too much, nor too little. Using the right amount of coffee is paramount for a successful outcome. However, the right amount of water is also a relevant factor to consider.
So, balance both elements to achieve a satisfactory result. Two tablespoons of coffee are enough for 6 ounces of water. Another precise measure is 1 gram of coffee for every 16 grams of water.
All in all, these numbers could vary according to your personal preference. Take these numbers as starters, then experiment for a while. Adjust the ratio of coffee to water that you use until you hit the spot.
Temperature
Boiling the water burns your coffee beans, souring the coffee more than it should be. Avoid surpassing the right temperature at all costs.
Instead, keep the water temperature at something between 195 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. That is approximately 93.33 C°. A simple temperature change is more than enough to either ruin or improve your coffee.
In the end, it seems that preparing the best coffee involves way too many details. This, however, is a price worth paying. A nice cup of coffee is enough to brighten up your morning, but the right cup of coffee improves your entire day.
