Clean Machine

Start your brewing process by making sure your machine is clean. You should be cleaning out your coffee pot with soap and water after every use and making sure that you rinse it out well. You don't want to leave behind any used coffee grounds or the bitter taste of previously brewed coffee on the inside the machine.

Ideally, your pot should be thoroughly clean and decalcified or descaled at least once a month. To do this, you can use a mild solution of lemon and water or a specific descaling product designed for coffee machines.

Clean Tools

Next, make sure your coffee preparation tools are also clean. This includes your reusable filter container and coffee spoon. Most coffee brewers use the same coffee spoon over and over, going as far as to store the scoop inside the coffee container. However, the metal or plastic from your scoop can react with the coffee and affect its natural flavor, so avoid doing this. Instead, store it in a clean area perhaps with or near your other silverware.

Filtered Water

Try using filtered or pure water the next time you brew a pot of coffee and note the difference when compared to tap water. By removing sediment, minerals and other taste-affecting particles, you can ensure the pure water you'll be using won't affect the taste of your brew.

Many coffee machines come with water filters. If yours includes a filter, remember to clean it and replace it on a regular basis to avoid build-up or calcification.

Additionally, some people also love the clean taste of distilled water, using their own countertop water distiller. Using home distilled water can significantly improve the taste of coffee.

Properly Stored Coffee

Coffee should be stored in a dark place at room or refrigerator temperature. Freezing your coffee may make it last longer, but it can also negatively affect the taste.

So, instead of buying your coffee in bulk and freezing it, buy freshly roasted coffee and use it within the week. Find a local roaster in your area and go directly to the source for that truly fresh taste.

Freshly Ground

Ideally, you should be buying whole ground coffee and grinding your coffee beans immediately before you start brewing. This will lock in freshness and keep your coffee from going stale.

When grinding, remember that how fine you grind the coffee will affect the taste. If coffee is too finely ground, it will taste bitter, but if it's not ground enough, it will taste flat.

Good Measurements

A good measurement ratio is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. Using much more than that will give the coffee a taste that is too strong for most.