5 Factors That Determine the Taste of Your Coffee
Coffee can be bitter, sour, sweetened, leaving nuts, berries or caramel aftertaste. All flavours and aftertaste depend on the type of coffee, the region where it grows and the climate and soil, as well as the height at which the beans grow. But did you know that the taste of coffee is equally affected by everyday things, such as water used to make coffee at home or a coffee machine? If you’ve noticed that a home-made drink no longer tastes as good, it’s time to think twice. Here are 5 different factors that can spoil even the highest quality coffee.
1. The freshness of the coffee
Coffee, like other foods, has its own shelf life. Unfortunately, the coffee machine does not report the expiration of the coffee. You will not be able to feel it after sipping coffee or inspecting a bean. You will know most clearly about the expiration date or, in other words, about the loss of good properties of coffee with the first sip. The reason for all this can be very simple – sometimes the coffee may just be too long and improperly stored. Especially if it’s a packet of ground coffee. It is the ground coffee that has a shorter shelf life. Therefore, experts suggest to choose beans and grind them yourself. Not for nothing do professional coffee machines grind each bean separately for each cup. This is what helps to ensure that the prepared coffee retains its best properties. So if you are still considering ground coffee or coffee beans, the answer is clear.
2. The coarseness of ground coffee
If you make your own coffee at home or use an automatic coffee machine, you should be aware that different ways of making drink require different coarseness of ground coffee. Have in mind – best coffee requires attention and patience. The basic rule here is simple: the longer the coffee is brewed, the coarser it should be ground. For example, espresso is brewed in just 30 seconds, so it requires a particularly fine grind. And the brewing of black coffee in a cup takes about 4 minutes. This means that the beans for such a drink should be ground as much as possible. So it is natural that the taste of coffee can change if you choose the wrong grinding settings. Take into account what kind of coffee you are making and adjust the grinding roughness accordingly, regardless of whether the coffee machine does it at the touch of a button or you grind the coffee yourself.
3. Coffee machine
You do everything the way you always do, but the taste of coffee is no longer pleasing? Maybe the problem lies in the coffee machine? Whether it is a semi-automatic or automatic coffee machine, all coffee machines need to be cleaned regularly. And it’s not just surface dusting. In order for the taste of the prepared coffee to be pleasing, it is very important to take care of the cleanliness of the internal system of the device. At the end of the day, empty the brew basket, wash it and dry it. If the coffee machine is automatic, clean its press at the end of the week and descale if necessary. Regularly not cleaned press and moisture accumulating inside the machine can become a great medium for the appearance of mold, and such diversification of coffee taste is really highly undesirable. To enjoy delicious coffee, taking care of the cleanliness of the appliance once a week is a simple task.
4. Water quality
It’s one of those things that isn’t usually thought of. Although carefully selected coffee beans are usually based on good coffee, the quality of the water used also has a significant effect on taste. Coffee experts recommend avoiding tap water. Not because it is of poor quality. Just in every city, and sometimes even in the neighborhood, the water comes from different wells, and the water in them has more pronounced or less noticeable taste properties. Also, the water that usually comes to the house through the tap is hard and has various impurities that can change the taste of the coffee. In order to enjoy perfectly extracted coffee aromas at home, it is worth choosing not only quality coffee beans, but also quality water. If the water in your home is just that as described, the simplest solution may be bottled water.
5. Water temperature
To make a cup of good coffee, you should not brew it with boiling water. So if you’ve made coffee in a cup so far by filling it with freshly boiled water, it’s better to stop doing that. Boiling water does not allow the subtle flavours of coffee to be fully revealed. Also, this way the coffee is often burned and the taste becomes bitter than it really should be. It is equally important that the water prepared for brewing coffee is not too cold either, as the coffee will be too weak. Coffee experts say that the best temperature for making coffee is about 96° C. Simply put, when the water boils, let it stand for a few minutes and only then pour the coffee.
Making coffee always requires care and attention, whether it is made by an automatic coffee machine or brewed with water from the kettle. Take into account the characteristics of coffee roasting, the water used, grind each bean separately and most importantly – clean your coffee makers regularly. So every cup of coffee you prepare is worth a moment of enjoyment.
