If you are a coffee enthusiast, you would love the seductive aromas that get on your nerves! However, even the most seasoned coffee lovers stumble upon common brewing mistakes. In the end, this compromises the aroma and flavor of the favorite brews.
Check out the three most common mistakes for brewing coffee, and how you can fix them. We have come up with three solutions that can help you rejoice with every sip.
Keeping beans in the freezer
Do you recall storing your roasted coffee beans in the freezer? While this might be your obvious choice, it’s a mistake. Coffee lovers believe that keeping these beans in the freezer will retain their freshness. However, this affects the moisture levels in the coffee beans and destroys the original flavors.
The solution? Use a container to store your coffee beans. An air-tight container will keep them protected from moisture and air. This is actually an old concept, and keeping the beans cold won’t help in making the coffee better in any way.
Well, here’s a recommended technique to use the freezer to store coffee beans. Don’t put the entire bag of coffee into the freezer. Each time you open it to fetch the beans, the moisture affects their quality. Rather, divide the beans into small parts and store them in individual air-tight containers. Each time you prepare coffee, use the portion in one container!
Brewing at the wrong temperature
It’s easy to end up with a less-than-perfect cup of coffee if you brew it at the wrong temperature. Ideally, you need to heat the water to 202 degrees Fahrenheit. While it’s impractical to maintain such accuracy, try to keep it in the 200 to 208-degree range.
If the temperature is too cold, your coffee might taste sour due to under-extraction. On the other hand, heating the water too high will make it bitter. In this case, the coffee will be over-extracted.
In case your coffee tastes sour or bitter frequently, get a high-grade electric coffee brewer. These are programmed appliances that can help you attain the right temperature.
Get a kettle with a thermometer if you are preparing pour-over coffee. Experts also recommend boiling the water and pulling the kettle away from the flame. Next, count up to 30 to achieve the right temperature.
Pre-grinding the coffee beans
When you grind the coffee beans, they might smell aromatic! However, when you start brewing, the taste gets compromised. Pre-grinding your coffee beans isn’t something experts would recommend.
Remember, you should grind the coffee beans fresh each time you brew. Do you know that the beans start losing flavor in just a couple of minutes after you grind them? So, if you had pre-grounded the beans two weeks earlier, imagine what it might taste like!
Most coffee enthusiasts get a flat burr or conical grinder. Once you grind the coffee, measure it properly to achieve the desired strength. For instance, if you prepare coffee in a French press, take one cup of hot water and put 2 tablespoons of course-ground coffee into it. For a stronger cup, add more.
It’s wise to use coffee k cups to ditch this hassle and enjoy high-quality brews with simplicity and speed.
With adequate attention to detail, coffee enthusiasts can learn from mistakes and improve over time. In this guide, we have addressed the common brewing issues like pre-grinding, temperature issues, and storing the beans. As you strive for perfection, let the aroma and strength ignite your senses and tantalize your taste buds! If you have been treating your coffee beans wrong all this time, you know how to fix it!
