Some people like their coffee full-bodied, rich and hot with no mixers to interfere with the natural flavors and aromas. For others, the perfect cup is a blend that includes added flavors such as vanilla or hazelnut. Regardless of your poison, there are some things that can be done to ensure a perfect cup of coffee is brewed each time.
Coffee beans themselves are pretty delicate little creations that begin to lose their flavor as soon as they're roasted. This means the beans purchased in stores have already begun the process of natural decline, but there are things coffee lovers can do to ensure the best cup possible.
Here are some tips for making serious gourmet coffee with a flavor that packs a punch, whether it's rich and robust or mild and nutty:
* Grind freshly roasted, or as close to it, beans into a fine consistency, but avoid the powdering stage. The grinds should be big enough to stay within a coffee maker's filter.
* Use at least 2 level tablespoons of coffee per six-ounce cup.
* Insist on a clean coffee maker. Wash the maker regularly and flush out the entire system, as well. Before each use, rinse out the maker with hot water. Also be certain to make sure the coffee maker is free from lime or hard water deposits. These can come free during the brewing process and wreck a perfectly good pot of coffee with a bitter, unpleasant taste.
* For the brew itself, use good water. Tap is fine, but bottled water that's fresh and free of chemicals is even better.
* Make sure to use hot water and not boiling water for making coffee. Boiling water further enhances the breakdown of the coffee flavor and can produce a more bitter tasting cup of coffee. The noted ideal temperature for brewing coffee is 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
* Brew according to the coffee maker's instructions, but be certain to start with a good base coffee, fresh water and ideal temperatures.
A good cup of coffee is not at all unlike a fine glass of wine. Meant to be savored and enjoyed, coffee is a drink that fuels the world. There is a big difference, however, between an average cup and a gourmet cup of a fresh blend. A few extra steps can make all the difference in the world when it comes to flavor, even with pre-ground coffee from a supermarket.
How To Make The Perfect Cup Of Coffee
Not all the soluble compounds are desirable particularly tannin so it is important to brew the coffee is just the right manner to produce the perfect cup.
Although it is possible to extract as much as a third of the mass of coffee from the grounds the optimum amount is about 20%
There are six important factors to consider when making fresh coffee.
1/ The coffee grind - By this we mean the particle size of the coffee grounds. This varies typically from largest to smallest thus: coarse, medium, fine and espresso (or very fine)
Over-extraction can occur if the grind size is too small for the method and equipment used resulting in a coffee being bitter and too strong. If the size is too large then under-extraction will occur resulting in a weak wishy-washy coffee.
Typically one would use a coarse grind for a coffee pot, medium grind for a cafetiere (French Press), medium to fine for a typical filter drip machine and espresso grind for an espresso machine.
2/ Freshness and quantity of coffee - Coffee beans should be stored in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and ideally kept in an airtight container. The coffee should be ground to order as ground coffee will lose some of its subtle flavours and aromas if is left exposed to the atmosphere for very long.
It is very important to use the suggested amount of coffee to match the brewing equipment. Increasing the brewing time, but using less coffee will not work very well but produce an over-extracted beverage. Using more coffee than recommended but a quicker infusion time will result in an under-extracted coffee.
3/ Temperature and water quality of the water - Always use fresh cold water to start off the brewing process. Ideally the water should be filtered to remove unwanted taints and odours and be very slightly hard.
Ideally water that is between 94 and 98 degrees Celcius should be used - not boiling water. If the water is too hot the coffee grounds can be scolded imparing the flavour.
4/ The infusion time - The length of time that the hot water is in direct contact with the coffee grounds is crucial in producing the perfect cup. In reality this is determined by the equipment being used to brew it, so always follow the manufacturers guidelines.
As a rough guide however consider the following.
10-30 seconds for espresso grind 3-6 minutes for fine grind 6-8 minutes for medium grind 8-10 minutes for coarse grind
5/ Brewing method employed - Basically there are three different methods employed to make coffee. These are steep & strain, filter infusion and pressure infusion.
Steep and strain simply involves putting hot water in contact with coffee grounds in a pot or container until under extraction has occurred. The resulting brew is strained to isolate the coffee liquor.
Filter infusion is common in many applications and uses a filter basket filled with coffee grounds that has hot water added from above. The infusion time is relatively short as the water infuses briefly with the coffee until the liquor passes thought the basket into a flask or container below.
Pressure infusion - Hot water is forced under high pressure though a small tablet of compacted grounds to produce an individual serving of coffee. This is the standard method of producing espresso.
Again it is imperative to use the right method with the correct type and grind of coffee.
6/ Cleanliness - Coffee contains oils that will leave a tarry residue on equipment that can contaminate and spoil the taste of subsequent brews. Daily washing and cleaning of equipment is an absolutely vital part in producing the perfect cup.
Have fun - producing a great tasting cup of your favourite coffee should be an easy and enjoyable task.
Both Paul P. Duxbury & Fenton Wayne are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul P. Duxbury has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Wine and Spirits and Dog Care. Paul Duxbury writes extensively on Coffee. You can read more of his articles at . Paul P. Duxbury's top article generates over 246000 views. to your Favourites.
Fenton Wayne has sinced written about articles on various topics from Coffee Advantages, Food And Drink and Coffee Advantages. For more information about coffee and coffee making equipment visit . Fenton Wayne's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.
