How to Make Good Coffee
Preparing a good cup of coffee should be easy - you’re simply combining ground beans with water until the brew is drinkable. But the variations in technique are almost infinite - and the quality depends on sure-handed knowledge. Different coffee machine models will require different techniques, but here are a few helpful tips for all makes:
Coffee is perishable. Make a cup as soon as possible after opening the jar or packet.
Coffee can pick up odours. Maintain the unique taste by storing coffee in an air-tight container. To keep it fresh for even longer some people recommend you to put it in the fridge or freezer. A.C. Drinker writes: Coffee contains light volatile oils which taste nice, and less soluble substances that taste bitter. Keeping your coffee in the fridge will keep these in. It’s also why you shouldn’t use water that’s too hot to make coffee. In theory, you may get problems with condensation and moisture. These might leech out the bitter chemicals, but that’s not been my experience. Keeping the coffee in a paper bag would help stop this, though I use a jar. I suspect freezing coffee will have a bad effect due to severe condensation of moisture after taking it out of the freezer. I doubt the crystalisation of moisture in the coffee has much effect as coffee is quite dry, and I suspect any microscopic structure from the plant is destroyed at roasting.
Others say never put the coffee in the fridge or freezer. ( I’d be interested to hear their reasons - A.C.D. )
Measure the coffee and water accurately; two level teaspoons of coffee to six ounces water.
Be sure your coffee is fresh and your coffeemaker is clear. The lime deposits that build up in the pot can be removed with a strong solution of vinegar and water.
Choose the correct grind for your machine. Draw fresh water from the cold tap. Hot water can pick up impurities in the pipes, and water that has been sitting loses its oxygenation. Make sure your water is hot, but not boiling, for the best mix of grind and water.
Remove the brew basket containing the grounds immediately. Don’t keep the coffee in the brewer or on a hot plate for more than forty-five minutes.