10 Commandments of Coffee Brewing
Brewing the Perfect Cup
Experimentation - trying out various coffee beans and different brewing methods - introduces coffee lovers to the rich variety of gourmet coffees. There are a number of do's and don'ts associated with good coffee making that are common to all methods.
Here are ten recommendations.
- Store unused coffee in an airtight container in a cool dry place; whole bean coffee stays fresh longer than ground coffee. For prolonged freshness, ground coffee may be kept in the refrigerator for 7 - 10 days maximum. Freezing coffee is best if you must keep it for an extended tine before using. However, it is recommended that coffee be ground nearest to the time of brewing. Be sure that the coffee is fresh at the start; refrigeration will not restore stale coffee. Coffee attracts and absorbs foreign odours, so be careful to protect your coffee from foreign flavours and odours that can affect the flavour.
- Always use the correct grind for the particular brewing method you have chosen. When purchasing your coffee ask for assistance for the selection of the perfect grind for your specific coffee maker. Often, if your coffee is overly strong or bitter, the grind is to fine or you have used too much coffee. If the brew lacks flavour or strength, it is likely that the grind is too coarse, or you have used too little coffee. The grind of the coffee should be adjusted to the type of brewing equipment being used. Generally speaking the faster the brewing method, the finer the grind.
- Always use freshly drawn cold water. Hot water has a tendency to be flat and stale. Never use softened water - it produces a bad tasting brew.
- Never guess amounts. The recommended proportion of coffee and water is two level teaspoons ( 7 grams ) per 240ml ( 1 cup ) water for regular strength coffee. Slight adjustments can be made to suit individual tastes.
- Make sure the coffee brewer and server are clean, thoroughly rinsed and hot. Coffee quickly picks up flavour during the brewing process.
- For best results, always brew to the full capacity of your coffee maker.
- To prevent bitterness, remove the grounds from the brew as soon as the brewing process is completed. For the same reason, never re-use grounds.
- Serve coffee immediately after brewing. With drip and plunger methods, stir the brew before serving. Fresh brewed gourmet coffee allowed to sit on a warmer will begin losing flavour immediately. The longer it is held, the less desirable it becomes. Brewed coffee stays flavourful for about 20 minutes and drinkable for about one hour maximum.
- Never reheat cooled coffee or allow it to sit on a heat source - the coffee will lose its flavour quickly if the brew begins to boil and rapidly becomes bitter and undrinkable.
- An air pot, such as a thermos or any other kind of vacuum container with a glass or stainless steel interior, will keep freshly brewed coffee warm for a long time. Storing coffee this way also keeps the coffee from breaking down and losing its flavours. Be sure that the interior is glass or stainless steel, as other materials may hold old flavours.